#CFISDchat is a weekly chat run by Cypress-Fairbanks ISD educators and guest moderators. Join us for discussion on various education topics and grow your #PLN!
Hey #CFISDchat! Glad to be here with you. I’m Brandy, an ELA Instructional Specialist from @HemmenwayStreak, and obsessed with helping kids grow in their reading lives. 👩🏻🏫
A1: a few things that I’ve seen is a few of our ELAR classes create opportunities for talk through their station rotations. Students get to bounce ideas off one another while they are writing/reading. #CFISDChat
A1: Being intentional in lesson designing is so important. Time for group work is powerful and making sure to have Share Time at the end of the workshop model is so meaningful for students. #CFISDchat
A1: In social studies we have students collaborate on real-world issue. The more the can connect the history with the modern, the better they can problem solve. #CFISDchat
A1: the best collaborative classrooms I’ve seen have allowed TONS of S talk, about their books, their thoughts, and their writing. Reading&writing classrooms don’t have to be (shouldn’t be) quiet! And they’ve provided choice through choice boards and menus. #CFISDchat
A1: #CFISDChat Our ELAR teachers started bookclubs to give students a chance to discuss their books. It’s been a great way to guide students through the collaboration process to prepare them for other classroom activities.
A1b: During an open-ended Book Tasting last week (immersing into fiction) many boys pulled out their personal copies of #DavPilkey books and matched them w/ library books. Great connections and discussions happened. Definitely recommend this method. #CFISDchat
A1: (part 2) Students in rotations/stations allows students to learn from each other and have more ownership of their learning. Tons of collaboration and talk happens in stations! #CFISDchat
A1: Building relationships through impromptu convo’s at #stationrotations! Mondays: two Ss at my station have a convo about their weekend while I work one-on-one with another student. I try to let it “become awkward” (allow silence) to build interpersonal skills :) #CFISDchat
#cfisdchat A1- in my classroom I did lots of book clubs with general Qs for accountability & discussion. I haven’t quite figured out how to transition that same concept to working w/specialists, but I’m definitely open to suggestions.
Oh how I WISH I could get a redo of my social studies instruction from the beginning. Teaching the way you describe is so much more relevant and impactful! #cfisdchat
A2: our teachers have really embraced flexible seating and student choice in their design. They are trying to allow students to be as comfortable with their learning environment as possible. #CFISDchat
A1: I first make sure the group they're in works, then if there's an assignment everyone has a role-one person can't take over or one person can't slack off. For ex, a very shy kid has a very teacher-like kid helping him. A good group dynamic is the first step! #CFISDchat
Yes! So excited that bookclubs made the beginning of the year units. They really set the year up for success and you can see the students building confidence and getting experience with various leadership roles. #cfisdchat
A2: having the classroom set up in groups helps rollout collaborative groups quickly. I also have a collaboration station table where students have a little more room to spread out and work together. #cfisdchat
A2 #cfisdchat We rearranged our training labs to be more suitable for movement & to better facilitate conversation. Ts can get up, talk, gallery walk, etc. Too often tech trainings are missing basic, good teaching strategies!
A2: my students created a weekly video podcast. Each table collaborated in the hallway to create their part. I loved the conversation I overheard as they planned and filmed! #cfisdchat
I did a poetry project w/my 8th graders that had them analyze a poems’ theme & compare it to a modern day social issue. They created movies using iMovie & Movie Maker to illustrate. The connections they made were amazing! #CFISDchat
I love watching administrators take common practices from classrooms and using them with staff. Newer staff members to the profession see a model while teachers can reflect on students’ perspectives too. #cfisdchat
A2: flexible seating sets the tone for a collaborative environment. No desks in rows! Trust students to make seating decisions that benefit them. Allow students to move freely through stations at their own pace using timers for S to monitor. #CFISDchat
A2: #CFISDChat Be flexible with your room & students. Allow them to arrange the room for group work & set it up for their needs. Student driven classroom 🙌🏻
A2: We have a good mix--regular desks set up in 4's, a futon in a back corner, pillows & rugs on the floor.
They get comfortable and then get to work. #CFISDchat
Q3: What is one tip you have for creating a classroom environment in which all students feel comfortable trying something new or challenging? #CFISDchat
A2: Utilize flexible spaces. In and out of classrooms. At The Park we have multiple areas that students can choose from that suits their style best. Our teachers are great at moving through the various flex spaces to best facilitate learning. #CFISDChat
Room for gallery walks is also a great piece of a collaborative classroom! It’s always a great idea to have sticky notes at each station so Ss can share their reactions, responses, and ideas they’ve had while at that piece. Feedback is a MUST! #cfisdchat
A3 #cfisdchat I openly share when I’m trying something new, when I fail, & what I learned from failure. I want to build a community that supports risk-taking & innovation. Let ppl know it’s ok NOT to be perfect!
A3: I think this comes through time. You create this environment by the relationships you make with students. It’s shouldn’t be an overnight thing. #CFISDchat
A2: 3 Long "Tables" of 8-10 students facing each other. No tables? No problem. Just face their desks towards each other. Work as pairs, work as a group. Or split when needed. #CFISDchat
A3: Back to student talk, start simple with something all Ss can respond to, confidently. When I taught Eng II, Ss always answered 2 questions, after every reading - what did you notice? What do you want to know? ... huge confidence boost which leads to risk-taking #CFISDChat
A3: #CFISDChat That’s where your small groups come in handy. Students can start taking risks & facing challenges in a smaller, more comfortable setting. Then they become more comfortable taking the next step.
A3 - Students feel safe to take risk when they see their teachers take risks. Share your story, let students see you struggle, demonstrate your thinking #cfisdchat
A3: To get comfortable taking a risk, you have to take one often! Give students lots of opportunities to try new things and take a risk and always uplift and encourage their efforts! #cfisdchat
@CFISDchat Q3: I allowed my students to see me take risks and was honest when I failed. I wanted to make sure they realized that I was human too so hopefully they would be comfortable taking risks too! #cfisdchat
A3 continued: especially great when the answer to one student’s question was the “I noticed...” from another. Then the real talks begin! 📚❤️ #CFISDChat
@CFISDchat A3: We have a Quote a week that focuses on taking risks, becoming better each day through our effort. Students share with partners first and are working in small groups they are more comfortable in these situations. Also praise and affirmation!! #CFISDchat
A3 in science, I make sure Ss see me fail. They know that I don't know everything and that they're allowed to ask questions. They know they can correct me. Try to instill in them that it is about the process ! #CFISDchat
A3: choice boards & menus show Ss that you trust them to make choices in how they show their learning. This gives Ss the freedom to try new things they may not have tried before. Celebrate their growth and include the whole class in celebrations! #CFISDchat
A1: I'm LOVING the "station rotation" model where students must work together to produce the end product. Sometimes we peer edit, sometimes we jigsaw read, sometimes we use random collection, etc. #CFISDchat
A3: #CFISDchat Ss seem to take more risk when they can work with their friends/buddies. They feel more comfortable working with people they know (I slowly help them mix in new friends too)! I find that they are more receptive to challenges when they have other Ss to lean on!
A4: I love give my students the freedom of completing their tasks for the week in the order they choose. I use data to pull small groups while the others are seeking the answers to their questions. Ts are the curators of knowledge, not the providers. #cfisdchat
A4: It’s all about the product creation and the sharing! This can be done in a number of ways! Social media, class presentations, wikis, Padlet, etc. #CFISDchat
A4- pt1 #CFISDChat I would have my outgoing classes create success tutorials for incoming Ss. Think: How to survive ELA w/Mrs. May. Everything from content, to classroom procedures & expectations, they even did m how to get on my “good side” one year, lol
A4- pt 2 #CFISDChat I gave no parameters for what to cover. Ss made videos about whatever they felt was important. 3 min max. Peer reviewed to determine what made it into the video library
A4: #CFISDChat My favorite is always student centered learning. I love when they are all working independently, & I can walk around and confer with them. I get to watch their learning and see the Ah-ha moments.
A3: We spend so much time building our community & classroom relationships that they start to slowly feel comfortable taking risks. It's not a quick process. And depending on your clientele, lots of correcting bullying-type behavior. #CFISDchat
Having a portable classroom means limited space- we sit in three large groups with the desks always at least with a partner and two smaller work tables in the corners! It’s cozy, but we 💕 it and group work! #CFISDchat#teamworkmakesthedreamwork
You’re right. Let’s leverage the positive power of technology and social media. We can set the example and show those 21st century skills for publishing our work. #CFISDchat
@CFISDchat A4: I have loved the choice boards we have created for students this year and blended learning rotations! I love sitting on small group and watching all the independent and collaborative learning going on around the room!#CFISDchat
A3: Have the TEACHER model risks, model mistakes, and model how to respond to embarrassment or failure. TONS of praising effort. TONS of ignoring small errors. Oh yea, and SMILES! #CFISDchat
A4: #cfisdchat My Ss love to present their ideas and read their works. I love to give them the mic...go sit out in the class...and listen to the Ss read, teach, and answer questions with one another. "We learn 95% of what we teach!"
A4: I love working on functional skills that transfer from classroom to home seamlessly! Our science class, Functional Daily Living, includes instruction on tasks like loading a dishwasher, washing clothes, etc. #CFISDChat
A5: I love having Ss track their assessment growth in their reading journals so that we can work on threshold goals and realistic progress. I also love giving stickies w/ small goals after conferring so there’s clarity from our convo. #cfisdchat
A1: One of the ways that I facilitate student collaboration is turn and talk. It may seem simple, but a student states their question, the other students collaborate with each other to come up with an answer. #cfisdchat
A5 #CFISDChat at the beginning of all of my PD sessions, I ask participants to set a learning goal. How will you know your time here was successful? At the end- look back at your goal. Did you reach it? If not, what add’l resources do you need to be successful?
A5: I created a spreadsheet where my students put their test grades and then track their progress. It's also connected to a Google doc where they reflect on their performance and make a plan on how to improve. #cfisdchat
A4: Absolute FAVE: Book Talk on Fridays. We gather 'round the futon, we eat snacks & we talk about books! They improve their skills each week. They question, summarize, analyze & they don't even know they're doing it! #CFISDchat
As a sped teacher, data is life. But as a secondary sped teacher, putting data collection in the hands of Ss is possible and effective! I’m just getting started with it and am excited to see the results in my classroom! #dataismagical 🧚♀️ #cfisdchat
@CFISDchat A5: Students have a graph sheet in their reader’s notebook to track assessments with their goals. We check in on this often in small group. We also will set goals on sticky notes during conferences as a reminder. As a class we will set goals as well. #CFISDChat
A5: As a sped teacher, data is life. But as a secondary sped teacher, putting data collection in the hands of Ss is possible and effective! I’m just getting started with it and am excited to see the results in my classroom! #dataismagical 🧚♀️ #cfisdchat
A5: I had my Ss write out goals in their ISNs at the beginning of the year. It gave them an opportunity to have that list available when I asked them to see if they were on track. I made sure they saw me do the same same thing. #cfisdchat
A6: I’ve always been too much of a control freak to give classroom jobs, but I’m trying it informally this year 🤣 All of our students have goals to help them transition into independent adult life and seeing their progress is awesome! #cfisdchat
A6 #CFISDChat *whispers & looks over shoulders* 👀🤫 I’m delaying email answers. It’s forcing my specialists to lean on each other & look for answers in the resources that have already been shared. It’s also forcing them deeper into our Schoology group.
@CFISDchat A6: Ss are building responsibility through their rotations and helping one another, extensions in Google Classroom for book recommendations and Shelfies, recording podcasts to share their thoughts and writing! Lots of students voice and choice! #CFISDchat
A6: #CFISDChat That’s part of student goal setting & conferring. It allows them to track their own progress & receive feedback. It gives them more ownership of their learning. And create purposeful activities for them.
A6: #cfisdchat Choice boards help facilitate a level of responsibility. Having an accountability partner can foster responsibility also...we all need a "workout" buddy every now and then!
Thanks for letting me crash your #CFISDChat tonight. I’ll learned so much & I have many great ideas I’d like to try out. CFISD always makes me feel so welcome! Good night all!!
