The goal of #wvedchat is to provide educators an opportunity to connect, share, and learn from others by engaging in conversations around issues and topics in education.
#wvedchat A1 Educators haven't a shot at reaching the mind before they reach the heart. I told every student that my last 4 years in the classroom. Launched the thought with Mouse Traps & Blindfolds. https://t.co/ADmgpqR22o
A1 without relationships you have nothing but a hollow student. Focus on the internal part of each mind, body, and soul to really understand your Ss #WVedchat
#wvedchat A1 It's no different than adult relationships. Connections take time & moments. I love what @BethHouf & @burgess_shelley
wrote about being a maker of moments.
#wvedchat A2 I can't say enough, I'd estimate 75% of classroom management issues would decline if teachers really understood how important the 1st week of school is. Recognizing good behaviors from the toughest students will pay in months of hard work.
A2: The classroom becomes like a family. Relationships emerge between Ss and T. Ss also develop relationships with each other. There is a sense of caring.
#WVEdChat
#wvedchat A2 If Ts recognized their toughest student in the 1st 2 days, made a positive call home or a home visit to praise that kid in week 1, that kid would work their tail off for months for that special teacher.
A2: Builds trust, students will run through brick walls for teachers they trust & love who they know care about them. All the best teachers I've ever worked with, who get the best results, it's overwhelmingly clear how much they care about their kids, and the Ss know it #wvedchat
#wvedchat A2 I've shared this photo with hundreds of educators. Anthony taped this to his binder in week 1. I gave him a handwritten note on day 2 and he proudly displayed it all year on his binder.
A1: It’s critically to build relationships with students in order to establish trust and respect. Ss will not learn or collaborate in a classroom without these two important pieces in place! #wvedchat
Absolutely, I think if most teachers were honest with themselves, they'd look at that toughest kid in March and realize they did little to turn the kid around in August. #wvedchat Leverage the family by praising him/her early and often.
I have a prime example now of a tough kid, but the teacher has worked to build the relationship. It's not perfect. The kid, quite frankly, has a lot of intense needs, but his teacher is making things easier on him and the class by her efforts to let him know she cares. #WVEdChat
A2: Building community is a huge part of creating a safe, collaborative and learner center environment. Ss behavior, respect for each other and their teacher are all centered around the established environment modeled by the Teacher. #wvedchat
#wvedchat A3 I listen to other Ts in the T lounge. They'll tell you who the worst kids are n grade below you. Watch roster for that kid(s) n August. As soon as you see their name, find their bus number, meet them on 1st day, walk by at lunch, hi 5 after schl. Make the moments!
A2: I have a good example of a kid who was rough around the edges when I had him in 4th grade. The impact for him was so great, we are still in touch 4 years later. #wvedchat
A3: Being a tech coach I’ve used apps to have the kids tell me about themselves. The kinders would use something like @PicCollage or @ChatterPixIt while older Ss would use Pages or Keynote. Then upload to @Seesaw or @Schoology#WVEdChat
A3: I try to get in the cafeteria, choose some random kids to sit with, and just talk. It's nothing magical, hard, or expensive, but I learn a lot about the kids, and at the elementary level, kids think their principal is the coolest! ;) #wvedchat
A3: I enjoy watching students interact with one another. I usually incorporate an exciting team game that takes collaboration and observe their interactions without them knowing what my purpose is! #wvedchat
One of our strategic plan goals for next year is going to be related to student engagement, but beyond IPI coding and Kagan structures, I'm trying to figure out how to include #StudentVoice in the goal, as a means for connecting with students and building culture. #wvedchat
I'm collecting ideas! Thanks! Anything else, send it my way! I'm thinking student blogging, student council with the 4th/5th grade where they meet with me to give me input on school wide things, etc. #WVEdChat
#wvedchat A4 Great Q. There's little middle ground. If you aren't fostering positive relationships intentionally, you're creating negative ones. I get sick of hearing "Yea, I have a relationship with Josh, he's in my biology class."
A4: being jerks... Is that PC? Some adults just don't see the value in trying t connect with a kid, don't see it as their job. I've never understood how you could do a good job without connecting, but I think philosophically, they don't understand the role of teacher #wvedchat
A4: I would say by not paying attention, ignoring their needs or not providing a successful educational environment for achievement. Positively, practice what you preach! #wvedchat
BUT... I also think people accidentally mess up relationships w/ kids. Nagging is a really bad action on the part of a teacher, and I think those who do, mean well, but don't realize how that kills a relationship. Also, focusing on the negative when correcting behavior. #WVEdChat
A4: being jerks... Is that PC? Some adults just don't see the value in trying t connect with a kid, don't see it as their job. I've never understood how you could do a good job without connecting, but I think philosophically, they don't understand the role of teacher #wvedchat
Agree Nicole. I think it's worse in secondary level. It's equivalent to this old notion that "I'm the master of content, your job is to step into this room and absorb as much as possible." Diff roles today & hard for some to accept it. Rely on compliance & rules. #wvedchat
EXACTLY! I saw it more when I taught middle school. Like they are going to fix a kid with tough love, but it's not always coming off as "loving" #WVEdChat
#wvedchat A4 Another BIG mistake a lot of edus make with kids is placing CONDITIONS on how they treat kids. It's a human nature but a big NO NO. It's the "I will treat you like you treat me" attitude.
Wonder is SOOO AMAZING for building relationships. So many points of discussion, and different kids connect to different characters. Reading it with my class was something I really felt made our whole class stronger together, more empathetic. #WVEdChat
#WVEdChat A1: For many, but especially the toughest, without the relationship aspect, there’s no investment. Many kids need to see the investment, before they take part in what you have to offer.
#wvedchat A4 Another thought.. you can't have a learner centered conversation w/o majoring n relationships. It's a mindset. Either, kids behave n my class bc I have earned their respect/trust, or kids behave n here b/c that's what they should do. 1 is centered on Ss, 1 on the T.
#WVEdChat A2: From day 1 they know you are dug in. It’s not hard to see and feel when a teacher is invested. When it happens from the start, kids take you seriously.
A5 don’t think ever thought about it the first couple of years, always try to be human and polite; after several years it becomes an active thought #wvedchat
A5: I’ve always considered it. I think it was one of my foundations as a teacher to first build a rapport. I’m glad to have had a training that encouraged this as key to classroom success! #wvedchat
#WVEdChat A3: Team building activities show me so much about a kid - when I see them excel or fall apart in simple team building tasks, I right away know where I can hit the ground running with them.
#WVEdChat... forgot the hashtag... continuing the thought- BUT I learned pretty quickly what worked better was letting them know I was "crazy" about them like @Principal_EL says. I've never taught a group of kids I didn't pretty quickly fall in love with, so...
A5: I think in your first year you are looking for models, & I had amazing models of how to teach well. At times, because I taught a tough population (every year I taught really), I fell into the trap of zero-tolerance & trying to be tough back...
Letting them know I was crazy about them wasn't hard, because it was true. #WVEdChat That's what I mean, those most amazing teachers I've worked with have that.
#wvedchat A5 I was terrible my 1st year. Unfortunately, I can't even fathom what my coursework prepared me for. A classroom that doesn't exist I guess. My 1st yr support, n my building, was nonexistent too. I wonder how often that happens.
#WVEdChat A4: When you put yourself on the same level as the student. When you don’t ask questions, try various strategies, contact family, have one on one conversation with the student, etc ... when you hold the student in a higher regard than you hold yourself ...
I've also read that this generation of kiddos was raised to believe that respect is earned, not given (the way I grew up). I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I certainly see the implications in the classroom. #wvedchat
Right, because some kids just are NEVER going to do something because it's what they should do, but they just might do it because you've earned their respect/trust. #WVEdChat
Can't agree more. Not the way I grew up either, and no doubt some parents are still bringing their kids up to respect authority. But these chats are about solving problems and those kids are rarely problems in our classes. #wvedchat Have to teach 'em!
I didn't have good admin support, but I had a teacher team that was phenomenal. Those women were my lifeline and are still some of my best friends, and they probably helped my class indirectly by helping me. It's amazing what good colleagues can do. #WVEdChat
Yea, right or wrong, it's just a diff mindset that exists in our classrooms. Ignoring those kids does nothing for learning & likely interrupts lrng for other Ss. Drawing a line in the sand doesn't work either. We've got to teach 'em. #wvedchat
#wvedchat A6 I'm a big believr n providng kids opps to reflect on what's working & what's not. It's also a good chance to teach those Ss about rspctng authority, i.e. headphones n while some1 talkng, phones out drng class, etc. Use surveys, quick writes, forms to let kids reflct.
