The #2PencilChat is a weekly conversation about educational technology. As we enter a more student-centered age, let's talk about using all the tools in our toolboxes to be innovative and dynamic teachers.
Hi, Suzanne from North Texas joining you for the first time tonight. Heading into my final semester of residency with 3rd and 6th grade this fall! #2pencilchat
A1 A couple years ago, I really stopped focusing on rules and started focusing on teamwork for the first few days of school. If an issue came up, we handled it. #2pencilchat
A1: I created the rules along with students...helping them condense their ideas into 3-5 guidelines. We started from....what do we need to be safe, comfortable, and able to learn? #2PencilChat
A1 We keep it simple using @ClassDojo. 6th graders understand expectations, so there is no need to dwell on rules for a great amount of time. #2PencilChat
A1- we set class expectations together on the first day during our morning meeting. Students speak up for how they wish to be treated (golden rule) and how we can apply that throughout our day and towards materials. #2PencilChat
A1 We set up rules together. I like to keep rules to only 3 or 4. Big ideas like respecting others/classroom etc. See what the kids think 😀 #2Pencilchat
A1: I teach HS, so setting up rules is fairly simple. I have them on my online syllabus and we discuss them briefly on the first day of school. But mostly I instill the "Respect Yourself, Each Other, and Your Education" rule #2PencilChat
A1: i let my students crate most of the class rules together. There are some basic class expectations that we talk about as the basis tomake the rest of of our class rules #2pencilchat
I love this! Students will go so far when we emphazie team work and what kids SHOULD be doing instead of focusing on what they shouldn't be doing. Love this idea. Do you have tried and true teambuilding activities you use from year to year? I'd love some new ideas #2PencilChat
#2PencilChat We set up the community expectations together- we decide the mindful guidelines and protocols and together discuss our ideal learning environment and how we can achieve it. When students create their goals and rules they are more likely to follow them & self-regulate
A1: This is something I am looking forward to doing. I think the rules should be short & sweet, with the students creating them. I hope we can do this during our first day and then use the #wholebrain methods to reinforce. A focus on #respect and #SEL#2pencilchat
A1 After years of doing all sorts of methods, I kind of settled on be kind and do your best. Everything else kinda stems from that, right?
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A1: As a class we discuss what helps us be the best learner we can be! We brainstorm things that can help/hurt our learning and create rules from there- always focused on what we SHOULD do, not the negatives. #2PencilChat
What are the chats for Tuesday? I really need to put them all down in a calendar with times so I can follow. I know #2pencilchat is going on now and #champforkids in an hour. Any others?
A1: Student led approach (cc: @PaulSolarz). The students set the norms, this encourages accountability & ownership of their rules. Students are 100% invested when they create THEIR rules. #2Pencilchat
@burgessdave really talks about setting up the first few days to be the best they can be so Ss want to come back. I have taken that to heart. #2pencilchat
A1: I expand on the school expectations (Be Respectful, Responsible, and Safe) by discussing what each of those looks like in the classroom. #2PencilChat
A1. I'm lucky that the facility establishes many of the rules for me. B/C I have a revolving door of Ss, I watch the population. When a group has many new Ss, I go into my "welcome to my class" speech. #2PencilChat
Absolutely everything stems from this! It's important to set up that those are the expectations for everyone in the room, not just the students. As their teacher, they should also expect that I will be kind and do my best. We all succeed if we all succeed #2PencilChat
A1b: Then Ss created posters to represent the guidelines we set. It was helpful when someone didn't follow a rule, because I could send them to review the posters (knowing they broke a promise to their peers). Now I would do this digitally somehow. #2PencilChat
A1 My kindergartners/first graders look at our school's Rights & Responsibilities. After rdg meaningful bks that help us speak to the need, we create our own "constitution" of sorts. Kids then sign it & live into their beliefs. #KidsAsResearchers#2PencilChat
I would hope we would all want that! As teachers, we have to be there every day too. I want to build a classroom environment in which both my students and I can be successful and have fun. #2PencilChat
I found that even when Ss created the expectations themselves, that some still had a hard time meeting them. I feel that addressing things as they happen resonates more deeply as we can approach it in 'real-time' -we work on problem-solving as a group #2PencilChat
A1: We work with the school rules, and then create t-charts for what each one looks like and sounds like. This helps to make everything concrete! #2PencilChat
Cell phone ninja. Love that! We should all be working on creating learning environments that are more appealing than whatever is on their phone #2PencilChat
A2: Flexible seating and start the year with class and team building. Create an environment where students feel comfortable and start cooperative learning with routines/scripts...hopefully moving away from that more eventually. #2PencilChat
A1: This worked so well for me last year. I had them write which 3 rules are important and why. They had to convince the class. We voted on the best. They weren’t allowed to include words like “no” and “don’t”.
A2- morning. meeting. We alternate between an activity and a class conversation. It gives students to speak their minds and allows us to talk about things- behavior, reiterating expectations, class projects, etc. #2PencilChat
A2 For Ss, they sit in table clusters and I encourage group work. For Ts, I share different PD books, ideas, lessons, and I keep my door open in the mornings. #2PencilChat
A2: I just love starting the year with classroom committees, in which the kids organize things: a science committee, an art committee, etc. Shared problem solving leads to collaboration #2pencilchat
#2PencilChat Build a community- safe haven where voices are heard without judgement & risk taking is encouraged. Provide a foundation of reflection, feedback cooperation- PBL, debates & collaborative assessments- the more we let them work together the more they seek collaboration
I feel like I dropped the ball on this last year when my schedule and teaching responsibilities were changed during the first month of school, so I'm feverishly reading up on things to reboot for the coming year. I never quite found my footing. #2pencilchat
A2: Desk arrangement has been key. I have the desks arranged to encourage talking. Yup. I encourage talking in a HS classroom. Also, we do a lot of project based learning that stems beyond the 4 walls of my classroom. #2PencilChat
A2 - I give as many opportunities for collaboration as possible.I'm very aware that I'm not the only teacher in the room. Kids have an abundance of knowledge and need the chance to learn from one another as well. #2pencilchat
a2 I'm getting some nice teamwork with assigned roles in groups of 3-4. I run them like small depts & I'm CEO.We restructure when production is sub par. #2pencilchat
a2: by allowin S's to have ownership of their classroom environment. letting them work together on projects and give constructive feedback. #2pencilchat
A2 We rd together. We make bks & share them w/ each other. We bring meaningful things to tch our friends. We talk often & lrn to "listen w/ our eyes, ears & hearts." We are 23 tchrs & lrnrs in our classroom. We become respectful friends as a result. #2PencilChat
A2 We do a lot of things in pairs, small groups, so kids collaborate a lot. Working on gamification where they belong to a team - they are competitive so they work to support each other for the good of the team #2Pencilchat
A2. My Ss don't collaborate well with each other. So, we collaborate as a class & I act as the recorder of ideas. I make sure to validate all ideas. #2PencilChat
A2 I like helping kids to show off what they're strong at - if I know that I can rely on you for help with writing, and you can rely on me for help with drawing....
#2PencilChat
A2- I always bring everything back to the Ss. We come together for meetings whenever something is affecting the class and collaborate on a solution. Ss help set up the environment- their space is a reflection of their personalities, interests, and passions. #2PencilChat
@joboaler has some awesome stuff too. It is for math but goes with anything. She specifically talks about how discussing things can help your brain grow. #2pencilchat
A2: Lots of group activities. I try to do a BreakoutEDU activity early in the year. Their small groups (intervention) change daily, and I remind them they don’t need to like who they are working with, but they must do their best to work with them successfully.
#2PencilChat
A2 - I work with teachers and I am convinced it is about how much fun we can have together. I will never forget when my colleagues hid canned mushrooms around my room (I HATE CANNED MUSHROOMS) I was finding them for days but it sure made me smile. #sd113a#2pencilchat
A2: I promote collaboration by being a willing helping hand. No job is unimportant in a school and a positive attitude of teamwork is best support to a culture of collaboration. #2pencilchat
A2 Make mistakes. Don't try to cover them up. Ss know. They're smart. Apologize when you're wrong. Build failure into the course. We all fail. Do it as a group & learn from it. When we fail together, it's part of culture. And so is picking each other up #2PencilChat
A3: by not doing assignments that are based on one and done mentality. Letting your S's know that its ok to make mistakes and to try. I don't expect them to get it the 1st try & we celebrate wins even if it takes 50 tinmes for them to understand #2pencilchat
A3 Promote people taking risks, stop the group, on the spot SHOUT OUT or celebrate. My kids usually applaud whomever is doing something great. It usually encourages the others #2Pencilchat
A3- our classroom favorite sayings are “erasers are for when we change our minds” and “good thing no one is perfect!!” My Ss are little editors and will ALWAYS find an error in something! Mistakes are part of life! #2Pencilchat
A3 - I start by being very transparent about the risks I'm taking. Often when we're trying a new technology tool or a lesson that I haven't done before I tell my kids that we're all learning it together. I make sure they know that failing is part of learning #2pencilchat
A1 if they fill out their project logs and do their tutorials, they will get a good grade. I want to remove the “grade” from the discussion. From there we can try anything. #2PencilChat
A3 Before they enter the classroom a sign says, "Everyone in this classroom is a teacher and a student". I also explain the brain science of how we learn more from making mistakes than anything else that we do. #2PencilChat
I used her video series for summer school once & then printed out completion certificates & framed them. Their names looked great under the Stanford title bar. #2PencilChat
A2 lots of groups opportunities from class work to leadership roles, curriculum creation and project leads, GBL and field trip prep and special event creation and implementation, and council lots of council #2PencilChat
When they talk about this as a group they realize what is ideal universally and this helps them self-regulate and help support one another #2Pencilchat
A3: In math class as we're looking at problems I like to say, "Who has the most interesting mistake to share?" Volunteers share an answer that might not be correct, but is guaranteed to start a great conversation! #2pencilchat
A2 - One of my most fun nights with my fellow teachers was when we (I mean they.. I cheered loudly and did some smack talk) participated in a charity dodgeball game! #2pencilchat#sd113a Made it to the finals!
A3 if they fill out their project logs and do their tutorials, they will get a good grade. I want to remove the “grade” from the discussion. From there we can try anything. #2PencilChat
I also use the phrase 'it's okay and we'll roll with it' with my students on a fairly regular basis. For example, if something we planned doesn't work like we would expect, it's okay and we'll roll with it #2pencilchat
A3: We celebrate mistakes as part of the learning process. Teaching students about the #GrowthMindset so that they will embrace mistakes. I also will make mistakes, talk through learning so that my Ss can see it's all part of the process. #2pencilchat
A1 we set them as group over the course of the first few weeks and discuss consequences (restorive justice) for breaches. We revisit throughout the year and make adjustments as needed. #2PencilChat
A1: Make sure that Ss understand that "Failure is always an option and an expectation". I facilitate and try it until you get it policy. So they get many chances to improve their work. Some of the best discoveries have been because of failures. #2PencilChat
A3: Building a comfortable family-like atmosphere, recognizing student effort and not just successes, facilitating projects that require trial and error (like coding). #2PencilChat
A3 I have also removed the word fail from the classroom vocabulary. We make choices and from those choices comes opportunities. Those new opportunities lead to making new choices. Learning is a process and I want the words to reflect that process. #2PencilChat
A3 - It's important that my students know there isn't always one right answer. They also need to know that I'm not always the person in the room wtih the right answer. We learn best from each other and from our mistakes. #2pencilchat
A3: In math class as we're looking at problems I like to say, "Who has the most interesting mistake to share?" Volunteers share an answer that might not be correct, but is guaranteed to start a great conversation! #2pencilchat
A3 I tch at an inquiry schl. Because I've lrnd to live as an inquirer, pose ?s, research, I can support my Ss better. We adopt the stance of rdrs, wrtrs, mathematicians, scientists, living thru those perspectives instead of just using textbks. We take risks together. #2PencilChat
A3 - I work really hard to remind myself that my teachers' growth has to be on their own time - so practice patience and support. Taking risks means different things to different people and we need to honor that. #2pencilchat
I see a lot of people using the words fail and failure. They will never be positive words. You may convince students but you won’t convince their parents, grandparents or other guardians. Change the words for positive support. #2PencilChat
A3 lol model it, I’m all about trying something and seeing how it works out, processing the outcome and reworking for a second go. We do this all the time in class. Risk and failure are just steps on the road of learning #2PencilChat
Can I use one early on in the year to build collaboration or is it better for the Ss to know one another beforehand? Or does it depend on the tasks? What about something like parts of speech review with Grammar Rock videos for clues? #2pencilchat
In reply to
@kathyiwanicki, @MagicPantsJones, @TopherJayson
I see a lot of people using the words fail and failure. They will never be positive words. You may convince students but you won’t convince their parents, grandparents or other guardians. Change the words for positive support. #2PencilChat
#2Pencilchat Take risks myself- share my stories of struggle and accomplishment but more importantly letting my students know unequivocally thT my classroom is based on growth & progress, motivation and NOT grades- to inspire them to try new things w/our consequence only growth
I get that, but I think of how on the show International Waters, they give bonus points for answers that are "wrong, but funny." I like the idea of applying that to ideas that didn't work, but were bold. #2PencilChat
We're a public school partnership between a university & school district in South Carolina. I've been blessed to be there 20 years. I lrn something new every single day! #2PencilChat
It is important to stay mindful and positive- challenge their thinking and keep students engaged in learning not worried about grades but focused on discovery and exploration #2PencilChat
A4 Students have a lot of control over response types, I use Choice Boards. We do have to work on the curriculum but HOW we represent our learning is Choice #Voice&Choice #2Pencilchat
I get that, but I think of how on the show International Waters, they give bonus points for answers that are "wrong, but funny." I like the idea of applying that to ideas that didn't work, but were bold. #2PencilChat
A4: I don't know that I give them full control but i am working on giving them choice on how they turn in their assignments. Also i want to branch out this year and do mini flipped class lessons where the S's teach about something they are passionate about. #2PencilChat
I get what you're saying, but I think it depends on how you define failure and how you communicate that definition to the students and their parents, etc. I tell my kids that it's okay to fail/not get something right away, but it's not okay to be okay to stay there #2PencilChat
I may just find one to use as a model. Would these work with staff for PD? (Sorry, I'll stop asking questions and learn about breakouts for myself now...) #2pencilchat
In reply to
@TopherJayson, @kathyiwanicki, @MagicPantsJones
A4: Having taught PLTW for nine years, that is pretty easy since everything is project based. However, it wasn't an easy step going from being taught how to run a traditional classroom to student-led. My advice: One step at a time to see what they can handle. #2PencilChat
I see where you're at, here, I'm just not quick enough on semantics mid chat to put it in a way that shows the overlap between our positions. #2PencilChat
a learning environment starts with attitude ... kids need to know that it is ok to not be perfect ... getting an "A" is not the end goal ... learning is #2PencilChat
Q4 work menus with open choice projects for proof of content knowledge, a leadership team that runs much of the class daily procedures, a PE team that reviews standards & handles curriculum delivery. A community crew that builds and implements events for the class #2PencilChat
A4- my students run our classroom. I am there to ensure safety and to facilitate learning. They run the morning meetings, they quickly transition when it’s time, and they are the ones doing all the work. It’s not just my room- it’s theirs too! #2PencilChat
Number 1- I have never heard of that show and now must learn about it and Number 2 - that is exactly the kind of classroom I want to be part of - yes! #2pencilchat
A4: A classroom economy with jobs is a great way to get kids managing the classroom: I have naturalists, meteorologists, botanists, supply managers, and a pencil crew! #2pencilchat
Our storybook garden is right behind my clsrm - so, we're often outside living & lrng. Several Eagle Scout projects & awesome parents have helped to create our space. I tweet daily & am in the midst of growing a blog to share more of our lives & the possibilities. #2PencilChat
I get that, but I think of how on the show International Waters, they give bonus points for answers that are "wrong, but funny." I like the idea of applying that to ideas that didn't work, but were bold. #2PencilChat
Q4 -. Ask questions. Teach students to ask questions. Ask more questions. Ask How Might We Questions? Ask questions and give thinking time. Ask More Beautiful Questions. (Great Book) Ask What Questions. Ask Why 5 Times Questions. #2pencilchat
A4: Inquiry based learning and student choice reflected #PBL activities. I also think that including student self-reflection in assessment is important. Giving Ss choice to demonstrate learning gives back control of learning to the student. #2pencilchat
I started Genius Hour last year and it was great. I have many things to improve upon for implementing it this year, but I'm so glad I did it. Had a great colleague collaborate with me on it. #2pencilchat
Same! By mid-year, sometimes earlier depending on the student group, kids are totally in charge of Morning Meeting. This is OUR classroom not MY classroom #2PencilChat
They do! My boys were in his class last year. While they are twins, they both need different things. The ability to move and work in groups met both of their needs in different ways. #2pencilchat
In reply to
@JillWorley2, @TopherJayson, @MagicPantsJones
#2Pencilchat Let them help design lessons- lead the class debates, create podcast reviews, let them run enrichment & remediation circles and mentor one another. Flexible seating, growth oriented progress assessments and ultimately- voice, choice and independence
They do! I was talking to a parent the other day. Her son has been in my room (taught his older brother) and he can’t wait to get the Node desks :) #2PencilChat
A4 - I slowly release control over things students can be in charge of. They can handle leading morning meeting, choose what brain breaks we do, sign up for jobs to help when I have a sub. Students can do more than we give them credit for. We just need to ask. #2PencilChat
A5: I encourage them! I just read about doing a Happy New Year party on the first day of school, and I thought it was a great idea! Let's celebrate a new school year and make them want to come back for more! #2PencilChat
There are a lot of definitions. I introduce it as a time for my Ss to explore their passions. They decide what they want to learn, present it to me so it can be fleshed out, then I give them an hour every other week to work on it. They present when they finish. #2Pencilchat
In reply to
@swebsterteach, @gilkatgil, @boggess_carol, @geniushour
A4: I had my students be part of my lesson planning process. They had 65% of the input in what went in. They shared HOW they wanted to learn. It made a WORLD a difference! #2PencilChat
A4 There's literally something in every subject area they can lead - from tchg the morning graph results in math, sharing their wrtg workshop pieces, giving bk recommendations, posing ?s in the sci log abt something they've noticed, reflecting on picture bks & more. #2PencilChat
A5- we LOVE to celebrate! We give a glow (i like how...) and a grow (have you thought about trying....) especially when we celebrate our writing pieces. We also have class cheers to celebrate students during our mini lessons. #2PencilChat
A5: we celebrate big things and small things in the classroom. Their reading goals, doing better on tests. We also celebrate personal stuff as well. #2pencilchat
A5 In the class, everyone starts clapping and saying "bravo, bravo" 😀 I don't know where that came from but they all do it 👍 We also have certificates for some accomplishments like work on and achieving your goals #2Pencilchat
A5. Sometimes you have to defer to school policies when it comes to treats. Other than that, I believe that celebrations should occur as often as warranted--and don't require a huge production. #2pencilchat
Awww..thank you...but the truth is, I usually get some great idea off of @Twitter and I have no idea how it will work..they make it work! I always say that kids will surprise you every time. #2pencilchat
Q5: Well, as a HS teacher, I don't have that problem too much. But I do try my best to congratulate them when they achieve something outside of the classroom (i.e. sports, band, etc). I genuinely care about their achievements no matter how small. #2PencilChat
A5-We have impromptu parties every once in a while. We'll call it a couple of days beforehand and list ideas of what we want to do. What gets me is that we end up doing many of the same things we usually do (read/write with friends; build stuff; dance) but in our PJs #2PencilChat
#2Pencilchat We celebrate - large growth and mini-sprouting we call them every day- we clap & cheer for one another- I love to have lots of positive energy constantly in motion - this motivates & keeps us joyful in the learning community
A5b School wise we have a character sharing assembly at the end of each month and students receive certificates and have their picture posted on a prominent bulletin board at the main doors #2Pencilchat
A5: I do love Preferred Activity Time, and we often add celebrations here. Plus as part of our economy students can put together their $ and buy a popcorn party for the class! #2pencilchat
A5: I'll admit, I wasn't the most celebratory teacher when it came to holidays, etc (the room moms handled that stuff...lol). Loved doing fun and funny end of the year awards though...to show how well I knew the students. #2PencilChat
I have found unbelievable ideas from Twitter, too. It's fun to show my kids pics of other classes & hear them beg to try them. There's nothing like a spontaneous surprise engaging kids in the work. And, let's face it, that makes our lives a whole lot more fun, too! #2PencilChat
A5: Every day! We celebrate the day with a song, end the day with a song. In between we celebrate good behavior, improvement on an assignment, an AHA moment! Everything! #2PencilChat
Last year we had a few "read-a-thon" parties. No collecting money or logging pages, just dressing in comfy clothes and sitting around reading for the full 45ish minutes of class time. #2pencilchat I supplied simple snacks when I remembered.
Intrigued by this conversation. I have flexible seating and am always looking for ideas. I don't like bean bag chairs, but love a standing desk! #ElonEd#2PencilChat
In reply to
@gilkatgil, @nathan_stevens, @MagicPantsJones
Yes, yes, yes! Kids are SO capable! They know what is expected. They know I'll know if those things don't happen. We need to give them the chance to shine #2PencilChat
Thank you for joining us on the #2PencilChat, I love you SO MUCH!
We'll see you next week,
and in the mean
time, go have some
fun adventures, why
don'tcha?
I’m itching to do a surprise party for my kids one day- a T I know surprised her class with corn dogs for lunch- @sonicdrivein has awesome deals throughout the year.
In reply to
@nathan_stevens, @MagicPantsJones, @sonicdrivein
I'm sad to leave early, but am off to my next meeting. It was great talking with all of you tonight! Thank you for hosting @MagicPantsJones#2PencilChat
I was kidding when I asked @nathan_stevens, but I do have both a single standing desk and a big honking one for 2-3 kids in my room. Also a round table, regular chairs and desks, and few cushions. #2PencilChat
In reply to
@boggess_carol, @nathan_stevens, @MagicPantsJones, @nathan_stevens
Thank you for joining us on the #2PencilChat, I love you SO MUCH!
We'll see you next week,
and in the mean
time, go have some
fun adventures, why
don'tcha?
