Thank you for visiting #ksedchat. We welcome all educators to our chat that runs Mondays at 8 p.m. Central. Though many of our educators have their homes in Kansas, all teachers are welcome to pop in and join in on the learning.
Katherine here. Third grade teacher at Christ the King Catholic School. My WHY is to make an impact on my Ss lives the same way that my Ts did. To be the person that believes in the S that normally wouldn't have anyone. #ksedchat
**Note the new (to me) school district!
My "why"- I had so many amazing teachers, and came from a family of teachers. I want to impact the lives of my students just like my teachers did for me. #ksedchat
I’m Nicole & I teach 7/8 ELA in Gardner. I wanted to do something to help people but healthcare was out of the question. I love English, so I decided to become a teacher to help students and hopefully teach them something along the way! #ksedchat
Miranda. 3rd Grade teacher in Wichita, KS. My 'Why' is to motivate and engage kids in their education to set them up for success. I love seeing the look in kids' eyes when they get something they have struggled with. #ksedchat
A2: With the new business card!
Because I am changing districts, my summer is going to be spent sorting through my personal materials, and s-l-o-w-l-y setting up my classroom! Excited for this new adventure!! #ksedchat
A2) I am filling my cup. It is my 1st year in a while w/o grad classes and I have needed the time to rest and relax. I am also researching Personalized Learning for my @KSDEredesign Team and researching other things specifically for my Ss. #ksedchat
Hi #ksedchat! Kara, formerly of KS. Teaching HS sci in NYC. Why did I become a teacher? I wanted a break before med school. But I stay in teaching because I love the kids!
A2 I am working on finding engaging lessons for the first week of school. I want to start out the year with fun activities that get my students interacting with each other to build a great classroom community and show them that learming in our classroom will be fun. #ksedchat
Q2 Take a break and get away for a couple weeks. Around mid July spend some time looking ahead, setting goals and prepping to work towards those goals. #ksedchat
A3) Spend time getting to know your students and building relationships. It may seem slow/ a waste of time will everything you want to teach them but, will pay off in the long run. #ksedchat
A3: Spend all of your time setting up your expectations and classroom vibe for your students. Be explicit and repetitive so they know exactly how you expect them to behave. I devote tons of time to emphasizing growth mindset and a safe learning safe. #ksedchat
A2 This will be my 3rd year teaching, so this summer is a lottttt of relaxing, but also planning what I want to do differently for this year. #ksedchat
Hi, My name is Brad and I teach K-5 music at @USD409Atchison . I absolutely love the privilege of providing children the opportunity to develop their confidence in themselves and their willingness to respect and support others through music education. #ksedchat
A3 Spend a LOT of time going over rules and procedures. You will feel like you’re wasting time, but seriously, take your time going over those things. You’ll thank yourself later! It’s a great way to get to know students too and have lots of convos. #ksedchat
A2: This summer I've decided to take over my PD. I've dove back into twitter, read several @dbc_inc books, went to EDCamp, & going to trauma informed training later this summer. Read, reflect, learn #ksedchat
A3: Over-plan!! It's okay if you don't get to it all!! Just put the things you didn't get to in your Guest Teacher tub. It's going to go FAST! Be flexible! Kids are as excited...and nervous...as you are. Deep breaths! We've all been there! #ksedchat
#ksedchat A2) Exercise and healthy eating :) I also spend quite a bit of time listening and playing music throughout the summer in preparation for a new school year.
I have a breakfast club too for a few that have rough starts to the morning and the cafeteria is just too much for them to handle on top of everything else. #ksedchat
A3 Establish yourself expectations, routines, schedule. Do some activities to get to know your students better. Write down what goes well and what could have gone better #ksedchat
A3:Teaching routines and procedures & going over expectations...with a bit of fun too of course. @Kahoot@GoNoodle@quizizz are some ways to add fun into teaching routines & procedures. #ksedchat
I don't really start the academics, with my little people, until after the State Fair. It usually takes them about that long to learn the expectations, procedures, and routines. #ksedchat Plus, with the fair in town, no one gets a good night's sleep until it's gone, anyway.
In HS, I do academics from day 1 - but I also build in the routines and procedures. I can do this because they've been doing the school thing for awhile now - it's more practice and getting back into the groove. ;) But it sets the tone that we are there to learn. #ksedchat
#ksedchat A3) Absolutely do your best to build relationships with your administration, fellow staff and STUDENTS! Yes, one of the best things you can ever do, @AmandaBuethe , is to SMILE. Be relaxed and prepared but enjoy the experience of your first classroom. You've got this :)
A4: Unequivocally, procedures, routines, & expectations...not just with the students, but with the parents, as well. One of my least favorites statements in the entire world is: "But it's only preschool." #ksedchat
A4 Trying to get used to being tired all the time again. 😅 But really it’s just getting used to the routine. You’ll doubt yourself many times during your first month. DON’T. I promise you’ll be great. #ksedchat
A4) Breathing, it goes by so fast and so much to do. My perfectionism also comes out in wanting to make sure all of my IEP amendments are 100% correct. #ksedchat
A4: The first month is a lot of work & can be very exhausting!!!However, work hard in the beginning building relationships, teaching procedures, routines and expectations, so you can play harder the rest of the year! 🙂 #ksedchat
A4: Figuring out how to gain a tough students’ trust, assessing who actually needs academic help, who just needs motivation, and whose parents are a help vs a hindrance. It just takes a little time to get to know everybody. #ksedchat
Bathroom breaks and eating... our lunch schedule at school is way different than what I do at home in the summer. Takes a little while to get back into the swing! #ksedchat
Bathroom breaks and eating... our lunch schedule at school is way different than what I do at home in the summer. Takes a little while to get back into the swing! #ksedchat
OMG. My lunch isn’t until 12:30. I am usually about to chew my arm off by 10AM the first two weeks of school. I always bring snacks for my whole class.
OMG. My lunch isn’t until 12:30. I am usually about to chew my arm off by 10AM the first two weeks of school. I always bring snacks for my whole class.
A5 Find your teacher team! Even if it’s just ONE teacher you can talk to. You will need to vent about frustrations and celebrate victories. And it is 100% okay to leave the grading at school. It’ll be there tomorrow. #ksedchat
A5: After 33 years, it must be a top priority! I play the piano because it brings me joy and some great memories! I read because I love to! I go to bed early (9 pm) because I have to in order to be my best possible self for my little friends! #ksedchat
A5: Make home time about my family and not about work..(I say as I am currently washing and drying the tie dye shirts my students made at summer school today) 😬😬😬 #workinprogress#ksedchat
A5 Also what helps me wind down and transition into off-duty me is changing my clothes as soon as I get home. Getting out of dress clothes and into something comfy is so therapeutic. #ksedchat
Absolutely! Everyone will be asking how your first year is going. My first year I was inwardly begging people to ask me literally anything else so I didn’t have to talk about school. 😂 #ksedchat
A5: I make family time family time w/ two toddlers at home. I go in a little earlier but all planning and grading is done at school. On rough days, I have the girls stay at daycare an extra 30 minutes just so they get the best of me and not the leftovers #ksedchat
A5) I’m actually really bad at that part, but my partner forces me to take nights off from reading/planning/fretting. Peer (or spousal) support is a must. Don’t be alone! #ksedchat
A3: Once your routines are established, build your relationships with parents and students. Contact parents via email just to touch base. Get to know your students!! #ksedchat
A5) Listen carefully to how others engage in discourse and use discernment to develop meaningful relationships. Seek problem-solvers and those that discuss their practice respectfully and positively. #ksedchat
A5) Find time for YOU and your loved ones as well. I love to walk, listen to and play music, and dive into a good biography as well. Do YOU from time to time, k? #ksedchat
A6: Find your tribe; the people who will be there for you, who will guide you, who will answer your questions. Just remember, we've all bee there! #ksedchat
Nice job, @_NGash95_ !! Check this off your bucket list!!
A6) If you feel like you have to prove yourself to someone you never will. Just try to make the next day/lesson better than the rest. Also, stay away from negative people. Look for the problem solvers. #ksedchat
A6: Filter everything through “Is this what’s best for my students?” Stay true to who you are. Don’t sacrifice your passion because you don’t reach perfection. Teachers need growth mindset too. #ksedchat
A4: Having difficult conversations with students and parents with kids who are struggling. Work with teachers who can help. At the middle school level, work with your team to identify problems early and offer support. #ksedchat
A3) Too many rules are a bad thing. You have to enforce them as diligently as you expect students to follow them. I can’t keep up with 25 do’s/dont’s with 25 kids/hour. Connect as authentically and genuinely-within balance. Show them early they can trust you. #ksedchat
A6 The first year truly is just survival mode all year long. Accept this and know that you’re doing great. Ask questions when you need to, and give yourself more credit than you think you should. And enjoy it! It’ll go by fast. #ksedchat
