Weekly chat for excited 1st grade teachers who love to learn and share ideas. Participants are interested in a variety of topics including literacy, math, technology, play, inquiry, and being the best educators they can be!
Happy Sunday! It's time for our #1stchat book study. I'm Val from Michigan. Happy to have Amy @hawkeye_teach24 moderating tonight's book chat for the last 3 chapters of Empower.
Melissa so glad to have you here. You start trainings this week? Wow! We have a meeting the 15th but only because I am on two different committees all teachers start the 20. #1stchat
A1 I think an adjustable system would include self-selecting reading spots. My students have opportunity to read in various areas of the classroom that best suits their needs as readers. #1stchat
I have students work in the classroom where they think they learn best. I set up expectations early. I would like to gove more choices for math.#1stchat
Or, perhaps with strategy groups. Students could sign up for a strategy group that reflects one of their reading goals. They would be empowered to reflect on how it would support their learning. #1stchat
There are only so many ways to practice. Last year for word work I had a tic tac toe board, but yes it was still me telling them. One student came up with her own way, which is OK. #1stchat
You could give them choices for ideas but then ask for them to come up with ways as well and add to the choices. Then Ss feel empowered to create ways to learn #1stchat
A3: We have sharing everyday. I meet with small groups throughout the day. Ss seem to share more of their likes in small groups. Having choices for students in reading and writing also helps to know them. #1stchat
A3: I feel like writing and math I ask them to share their stories and who they are or how they solved it daily. I want to incorporate it more into morning meeting. Looking for chances for them to bring problems they see to the class #1stchat
I like the idea that they could make the choices! I feel like I would need to model different choices to start the year but then let them come up with them. I am all about saying yes to student as long as it will help them. #1stchat
A3 Making connections & building relationships helps me discover their stories. Once that happens, I use it to support them. Last year, I celebrated each achievement one of my readers made. I had to constantly remind him of each success in order to move him forward. #1stchat
A3: we share in class meetings, during the day and this year I built in a quick reflection time at the end to talk about the day and to share. #1stchat
I think a lot of mine happens in small groups. Have you ever share something out to the whole group from small groups with permission of course? #1stchat
A4: This past year we did passion projects about space. I was really kicking myself that I didn't start it from the beginning so that students knew all choices they could use to present their learning. #1stchat
A4 We do loosely structured informational book clubs. Students choose their topic, information collection process, and how they present their learning to peers. This year's presentation included a few skits and 3D models. #1stchat
This past year they could research together but they each had to present a final project. However this year I'm going to do more with partner groups to build our team and class community. #1stchat
It's usually our last reading unit of the school year. Sometime students choose between 5-6 topics (based on books in our classroom library), sometimes they tell me the topic and I go to the public library and get books to match their topic choices. #1stchat
A5: For me it is structuring it in such a way that it is beneficial for students. I know it is ok for them to struggle, but I want students to find some early success so they stay motivated.#1stchat
A5: My biggest fear is timing.
Giving too much time or not enough time. I'm excited to let my ss guide my teaching more and let them really hold the reins #1stchat
A4: absolutely love Ss choice with flexible seating- stationary bikes, cooshie tooshies, up high, library, living room, pillow headquarters. I love when they can determine where they do their best work and best thinking! #1stchat
That is a very good idea. I am trying to decide if I should start out verbal. However I want to have that physical copy to have them look back on their writing from the beginning of the year. #1stchat
My biggest worry is myself and making sure I don’t rush us into my final plans, but to stay intentional and go slow at first . I just get so excited! #1stchat
Yes, I list all of their ideas. Then, I group similar ideas/topics together. Finally, students give me their top two choices based on the topics most interested in. #1stchat
A7: I want to start by team collaboration-working with different groups and different ways to present ideas to the group. I very much like the start of the 20% project. I hoping to start with 10% a week. #1stchat
