#NHCSchat is a monthly twitter chat for, about and by educators in New Hanover County, North Carolina. #NHCSchat is an opportunity for teachers, administrators and other educators in southeastern NC to grow and develop their personal learning network (PLN) by connecting to other educators in our district and around the world. This monthly chat will create a forum for NHCS educators to gather virtually around the common interest of providing the best possible learning experience for students in our district. Chat topics will vary but will focus on best practices for teaching and learning in the digital age and will be moderated primarily by NHCS educators.
A1: I often see movement towards learner driven in different learning environments, which is the right direction. I most frequently see 'investment' in classrooms as well as 'autonomy' when doing projects such as Genius Hour. #nhcschat
A1: I am often out in learning environments that span grade levels. I think what I see most depends on the day/lesson...and sometimes even the school culture! I feel like I see many at the understanding stage on the continuum, but many are stuck in a compliance rut. #NHCSchat
A1: It depends on the teacher and the day. I do have a lot of great conversations with Ts who are working towards more investment and autonomy which is exciting #NHCSchat
A2: ensure the work being given is not "busy work". In addition, make sure homework is meaningful for the student and not just given for the sake of homework. #nhcschat
A2: "...empowerment is the end goal, yet compliance and engagement are steps in the process, not a final destination." - @gcouroshttps://t.co/vDmpTVlbXH#NHCschat
A1: As a teacher at an alternative school, I see compliance most often. I don't think it is best practice...there's so much more we could be doing. #NHCSchat
Although, I'm not a teacher, I would offer as a thought to ensure learning is taking place, encourage accountability on the learner, by having them restate or show work on the previous task to show if the skill has been learned or not. #NHCSchat
A2: I like the idea of using grades from later in the quarter (when students have had more time to master content) to replace those from earlier when they were just starting to learn the material #NHCSchat
A2 video or written text can be matched to rubrics. Students need to know how to emphasize key words that they think to be important for others to learn #NHCSchat
A2 I had a really inspiring conversation with @BlissCyndy once about WHY we take grades. What I took away from it was grades cannot serve as a consequence. Giving a zero doesn't work #NHCSchat
a3: Provide time for Genius hour; instead of using rubrics to provide grades throughout a research paper for example, use non scoring rubrics to provide feedback. Allow students to pursue interests and take the time to teach students to be creative with projects. #nhcschat
A3 you have to start using items or tools that students play with at home. Students interests is where it is at. Be creative. See where content can fit in. #NHCSChat
A3(1): The majority of my 8th grade students were so conditioned to be led that it was hard (for many of them) to make that transition. I think a big way for us to help them is to ask them questions -not just answer all of theirs- in order to stretch their thinking... #NHCSchat
A3: Give them choice what they do and how they do it. Often times they come up with things we would never think of. And, be open to their ideas - just because we didn’t think of it doesn’t make it wrong #NHCSchat
A3: I love giving an assignment where students know at the end that they are getting a rubric to grade themselves and a place to write about what they have learned by doing the assignment. Then I just “grade” the rubric and their response to what they have learned. #nhcschat
A3: Choices! Also, build relationships and let them steer sometimes. It's amazing what can happen when you let go a little bit (coming from a control freak lol) #NHCschat
I have been doing a PBL group and students are excited create and have more say in how things are created. The longer I teach the less grades motivate students #NHCSchat
a4: inquiry based learning is a great way to help learners understand how they learn - there are multiple steps with inquiry based learning with a range of emotions learners will feel - excitement, frustration, etc. depending on the step they're on. #nhcschat
One of the tools that I have seen used and helps student be responsible for their learning and aware of their expected goal is the use of the data notebook. They are the keepers and authors of the notebook. Its a living tool for students to measure their progress.
#NHCSchat
Q4: Goal setting is pretty embedded in our everyday life at the Roe. I like to conference with each student weekly (sometimes daily) to make sure they are tracking progress and taking ownership. It is a hard thing to teach; therefore, the daily revisits. #NHCschat
A4: FLEXIBILITY. Giving students a choice on how they go about completing an assignment. I always have math manipulatives where students can access them when they need them. #nhcschat
Q4/2: I also am amazed by how many HSs do not know how many credits they have/need, and/or do not know how to read their own transcripts...I am a huge proponent of sitting with every student and teaching them how to decode a transcript #vital#NHCschat
a5: Socratic Seminars, Genius Hour, projects that Ss could collaborate on with others in different classes were always big hits in my class room. #nhcschat
Q4/3: Many HSs think bc they have taken a class, they earned a credit. It is shocking and sad. They often do not know how many credits are needed to graduate #NHCschat
A5 gen z are sharers in content. Look at how many watch twitch or YouTube videos of games. Have your students create videos to share what is important. #NHCSChat
I was a typical traditional teacher. No redo, no retakes, no late work... I have changed everything! I am happier, my students are happier, and I see more improvement than I ever have. Now learners care more about "do I understand" rather than "get it done." #edchat#oklaed#tlap
Tasks that would require learners to share their ideas and opinions using interactive methods through the various electronic devices, apps, smart boards, open peer to peer discussions, is a way to consider or to achieve a sense of understanding. #NHCSchat
A5 students like to create items digitally. Look at the explosion of Minecraft. Use @tinkercad to design item and convert to LEGO view for how to build with blocks #NHCSCHAT
In reply to
@BrinsonDawn, @NewHanoverCoSch, @tinkercad
a6: Ss also loved having debates on moral/ethical questions derived from texts being read. BackchannelChat allowed quieter students to participate. #nhcschat
A5: Stations were a big hit for me last year (as a HS teacher, I was a little shook by this). I am a "learn by doing" and discussion-oriented learner, so it really helps with my Gen Zers. #NHCschat
A5: I like using Google Classroom for collaboration within the classroom and we use Flipgrid Gridpals for collaboration all around the globe. #nhcschat
A6 starting to sound like a broken record but have students create tutorials or videos explaining their process. A responsible creator share their knowledge #NHCSChat
A6: Tap into resources outside of your classroom; connect your students with opportunities to extend their thinking in meaningful ways! #NHCSchathttps://t.co/ayqE6iL4GI
Classroom presentations, parent to student conferences, student and teacher conferences, review their academic data present and over time for patterns or tends, and make recommendations to challenge or support their needs based on the data reviewed. #NHCSchat
And be a co-learner with your students. Not a guide on the side. Share the process with them. Sometime you have to try an activity that you are not sure what the endpoint will be #NHCSChat
A6: Check out these thoughts to consider (from @finleyt) when creating a student centered learning environment that allows for their voice and curiosity. https://t.co/8hHiLtyltd
A6: After every writing assignment we have an authors celebration. Students are so excited to share all their hard work with their peers, parents, and other staff members from our school. #nhcschat
My super sweet #studio112#soaringeagles amazed me yet again with their thoughtfulness - all on their own they decided to use @Google translate to translate their compliments for our new ell student. ❤️ #NHCSCHAT
A7 I usually have a couple backup options in my pocket for when this happens. It some students struggle with freedom to learn. You have to know your students. You may have students that need options to choose from. #NHCSCHAT
A6: Again, choice is a huge asset in my classroom. I like to see what each student chooses to do. And I sometimes nudge Ss who do the same thing over and over to try something new. Push them a little bit out of their comfort zone. Often, we are both out of our c zones #NHCschat
Ss figuring out how to live on each planet by using resources from the planet + creating new technology. They had amazing ideas, including turning methane into energy! If this is their brainstorming, I can’t wait to see the finished product! #NHCSChat#traskmiddle
A7 I recently observed a 4th grade teacher at Bellamy who let her students decide what math station they went to for the day. I have my class follow a schedule, but I want to try giving them the freedom to choose what to work on each day #NHCSchat
Ideally a student's academic goals should derive from a mutual discussion as to how they are performing in the classroom. Sometimes that is not the case. Often they are encouraged to speak up for what they feel they can do better in or where they need more support. #NHCSchat
A7 I usually try to have 3 or 4 spots where students can add their own input to the design of the project. This allows students to control where the learning goes and what to own their process #NHCSCHAT
A7: I like to allow students to help design rubrics, projects, even research papers (within reason). I love seeing what they come up with! I often learn a lot from them, which they LOVE! #NHCschat
Do it incrementally. Give students small choices to get use to the process. You can’t go cold turkey on something like this. I went full bore once and it took 2 weeks for them to get used to it. #NHCSChat
A8: I think it will look different for each child & each task. This chart reminds me that the shift to autonomous learning can be gradual. You have to lay the foundation before you can build the house! #NHCSchathttps://t.co/aZ7E99l13g
Letting my 2nd graders choose from a list of must do and may do. I am in control of the activities and learning but they have a choice to choose the activities that work for them. #autonomy#NHCSchat
A8: I teach third grade. I find it hard to let them have free range choice, so I give choices. For example during literacy in word work students have a wall of 15-20 rigorous activities to choose from. #nhcschat
A8: (HS) Depending on motivation and skill set, autonomy can develop quickly, or it can be a long process. You have to start with assessing where they are in the process...and build. #NHCschat
A9: There are SOOOO many ways to use choice to foster student ownership and autonomy! I love this list of 12 simple ones - https://t.co/7ZkLFhG9dM#NHCSchat
A9: Stations, choice of projects, choice of partner or self, choice of skill set to focus on during a lesson. Computer or paper/pencil (I have several students who prefer paper/pencil...old skool). #NHCschat
A9: We use a lot of different choiceboards and menus for students to choose which activities they want to do. They can be assigned different point values based on the complexity of the task. #nhcschat
My daughter experienced one of those in Mr. Law's class in 7th grade. She felt empowered to go above and beyond! Giving Ss choice makes a difference! #NHCSchat
A:9 Recently I’ve been allowing students to choose to tell me what they know as a story during a test/quiz. They tell me what they know and inadvertently answer the question, usually providing more information than I requested. #NHCSchat
So glad you could join us tonight. Be sure to join us on March 13 for the next #NHCSchat when we’ll be chatting about Grading Practices! https://t.co/JMNEHujy1J
A10: I love to read, so I am always looking for research-based articles, etc...but I also love discussing different approaches with my MS ELA teacher. It can be really eye-opening, esp with our population. #NHCschat
I really enjoyed the discussion tonight and learned a lot. Going forward if possible some of the discussions can be geared towards supporting both the students academics and social/emotional well-being as well. Thanks again for this opportunity to share. #NHCSchat
