A chat that offers middle school teachers a chance to have a collaborative discussion about a different topic each week. Our topics change from week to week, ranging from Common Core State Standards to Character Education. During the chat, participants exchanges ideas and resources. The chat group ranges in size each week from 10 to 50+ participants. Discussion can be general talking about instructional style or process to specific. Recently members of the chat group help each other create lessons.
Hello #mschat Tara from Zeeland, MI checking in. Chilly here too! .. I teach 8th math with iPads 1:1 in a #flipclass setting. Love my Ss & peeps @Creekside_MS
It most certainly is. Great week 17 with my team and was told this week’s lesson was “fun” and they “actually learned something during social studies this year.”
Hope you’re doing well! #mschat
A1: I started new units in both classes so "in with the new". Had a warmup that allowed for "chit chat time" so that I wasn't battling all the "want/need" to share after break. ... Yes, already back at it @Creekside_MS#mschat
A1: Gotta refresh procedures and principles. Allow a little time for everyone to get re-acclimated to their surroundings. Once we are set, then it is all in. #mschat
1) If you are still on break, start now. Send an email or make some phone calls. Continue to build those relationships now so the work can be easier later. We do the same with our friends and family when we go on vacation. #mschat
A1 this year I have tried to talk more with kids spent the last two days sitting with groups of students during lunch, meeting kids at the door after school and letting them know I can’t wait until they come back tomorrow #MSchat
A1: I started new units in both classes so "in with the new". Had a warmup that allowed for "chit chat time" so that I wasn't battling all the "want/need" to share after break. ... Yes, already back at it @Creekside_MS#mschat
A1: I like to spend at least half of a class period easing back into the regular routine of the class. Mon we are organizing binders, reflecting on goals set at the beginning of the year, & taking a survey of the first half of the school year. #mschat
A1: I also love to do Good News, Bad News, Any News (GNBNAN) the day we get back from break. Usually reserved for Fridays, but it’s a perfect way to reacclimate Ss & give them space to talk about their breaks. #mschat
A1 I usually like to have students do something active and collaborative after break. It is a tough time to go from sleeping all day to active learning and I find it helps to up that activity #mschat
A1 - A combo of both old and new. Reset expectations, and bring in some new things. Late to the game by just started using @Flipgrid in my classroom this week - before our two snow days. #mschat
I believe in a soft start - we played a review game (attack the snowman) that combined content and procedures. Reminds them that learning is fun! #mschat
A1: I like to mix it up by revisiting expectations but starting new with content #mschat Hard to carry learning over a break without plenty of reteaching
A1: Took advantage of during work time to catch up with Ss about how break was. I was intentional about asking more about them & less about math today in class. #mschat
A1: I always start the week back with a review to test learning loss and what we need to work on in small groups. This week was Ss diving into a QR code scavenger hunt. #mschat
A1 Being visible and vigilant; supporting my staff with reinforcing academic and behavioral expectations in every area of the building; reinforcing to students the need to hot the ground running in the classroom #mschat
Derek from Holland,MI a1: introduced the BillofRights act-it-out Activity along with a “share” circle about holiday break #needinspiration#gladtobehere#mschat
A2 - We only had two days of school before two days off for snow/cold - so I will need to RE-capitalize. Would love to hear some ideas. I find many of my kids struggle to get back on the reading bus. #mschat
A2 it’s one of the most exciting times of the year so I like to take advantage of the energy to build more relationships with kids. It’s also a great time to try new things #MSchat
A2; I think whether kids had a great break or not-so great break, that we have to focus on the joy of being back together. Seize the moment we are in. I give lots of genuine smiles the first day back. #mschat
A2: With time off, it opens to doors to have more personal conversations, about good or bad. Try & take advantage of making more connections or re-connecting with a few I've lost a bit with. #mschat
A2: This is a great time to build relationships which is serious currency in our business. I like to ask them about what they will do/did. I share my plans. It’s a great time to show our students we care about them as people. #mschat
A1: Start with new. We started 2018 off with Wise Wisdom Wednesday. Goal is to share new quote each week to think in new ways. #mschathttps://t.co/DINEqRpbTd
A2: Hoping to leverage the excitement to refresh on expectations & transition to the more rigorous 2nd semester expectations (less elementary, more middle school) #mschat
A2 Confidence! I was so wrecked with self doubt that I could have won a golden apple & doubted my ability Wish I had looked for the small success more #mschat
A2 16 years ago my school did not have a strong mentor program, or even a strong curriculum. I created everything, worked late into night and all weekend. Wish someone had told me there’s no “perfect” way to be a teacher and that it’s about relationships! #mschat
A2: I try to talk to each student on the first day back to let them know that I am glad to be back at school and with them. I think one of the worst things we can do is complain about going back to school in front of students and parents. We should love our jobs! #mschat
A2 Since I'll get to see all of the students during their lunches, I was intentional about going from table to table to "catch up" with the kids; general conversations lead to a lot of understanding them better #mschat
A2: Post-break is also a good time to have Ss press the reset button. So proud of one of my Ss who shared that she was setting a goal to be “less judgmental & more caring.” New year = new start. #mschat
Totally agree, it might take me all week, next week to get to every kids because their stories are so important I need to be intentional and give each of them my time #mschat
A2: I try to be careful about asking too much about the best part of their vacation. It can be polarizing. I focus on the things that tie us together instead. #mschat
@MsHubbard124 I could not agree more. The 2nd day back we did a goal setting activity for 2018. New beginnings are awesome and don't have to wait for September. #mschat
This is one of the best tweets from a teacher I've seen in several weeks. I can't do something as a career that I don't love. @Cmt215il Kuddos to you! Keep being great for kids! #mschat
A2: I try to talk to each student on the first day back to let them know that I am glad to be back at school and with them. I think one of the worst things we can do is complain about going back to school in front of students and parents. We should love our jobs! #mschat
A2: When kids returned Monday we celebrated as they came in, then had our normal Advisory. Heck in, but I spent some time in class having students reflect then talking with them to check the climate after break #mschat
Great point! I had a student before break ask me if it was right to be mad if a student didn't give them a gift but gave another #mschat have to be careful of polarizing questions
It's important to them, so we MUST make time for it. Good and bad. There are lessons to be learned. Excited to hear what they have to share. In reality, we might be their only listeners. #mschat
A1: I plan to start with a breakout activity. Just to get the kids talking and thinking. They will be tired and possibly cranky, so something fun has to happen! #mschat
A2: When kids returned Monday we celebrated as they came in, then had our normal Advisory. Heck in, but I spent some time in class having students reflect then talking with them to check the climate after break #mschat
I guess you know you are in the right job, fulfilling your passion, following a calling when you are genuinely happy to be back at work after a break! Nothing beats seeing my students faces again. #teacherlife#mschat
A3: Seeing all this discussion about "stories" and school closures makes me want to connect students with @flipgrid to stay connected and allow them space to share. #mschat
A3: I try to keep sharing to small groups. Too many have-nots & Ss that don't have same opportunities. Try & capitalize something that was positive for them, learning or not. #mschat
A3 I share what I’m reading or passionate about especially if I have a new book or if I traveled. Kids like to hear about us and what excites us #MSchat
A3: I remind them of the reading and writing goals they set in Sept. We then discuss how they've grown. Then we set revised goals for rest of year. #mschat
I teach at a low SES school so we don’t really harp on the break since some of them did have the best break, without being in school. Not knowing if they would have food over the break. #mschat
A3: This year I really hopped on the #OneWord2018 bandwagon. Our first day back, I had Ss examine the resolutions they set over break, look at their goals for the rest of the year, & try to come up with that #OneWord to encompass 2018. They rocked it out! #mschat
A3 - for the first time I am using @Flipgrid so I asked kids to tell me about their break (but nothing about presents) in a video response. They loved it and did a great job. Combined some new tech learning and telling me about their break. #mschat
A3: I asked students to share a HIGH, a LOW or A Goal so that they had options to be excited, to share if they needed support, or to move forward-had everything from “ I got new sneakers”, to “got to see my dad in jail”, to “we are living on couch bcause our pipes froze” #mschat
We have a similar makeup. Some of my students traveled to exotic places while most others struggled to stay warm & just have enough. I try to be careful. #mschat
A3: I remind them of the reading and writing goals they set in Sept. We then discuss how they've grown. Then we set revised goals for rest of year. #mschat
I focused on #oneword last year. Love the idea of sharing with students. Going to do this when I see them again...now I just need the snow to go away. #mschat
Love it! This is a great way to bring the goals to the forefront and encourage kids to consider what steps they need to take to achieve these goals in the new year. #mschat
I noticed when we did our goal setting yesterday that some of my kids really struggled. They aren't used to reflecting on their own lives. It's a muscle we need to help them develop. #mschat
A3: I also have lots of new books. My students all choose personal reading challenges for their choice reading so we revisit those and choose new books. #mschat
So true. They have advice for everyone else, but it is so hard to concentrate on themselves and actually be honest and realistic with their own needs. #mschat
I feel like it was good to share out when we came back because it reminded them that we have a classroom community& a school family that is happy for you, or here for you or both. I watched students show compassion, empathy, & reconnect. That’s what it’s all about #mschat
A4: I realize I'm an organizing nut but I think an organized binder (with all supplies in their correct spot) helps kids to get set for the new year. We also revisit and revise the goals the created in August. #mschat
A4: Since it’s a new year, make space for new beginnings. Model this for students—what are you going to do different in your teaching practice this year? Invite them to commit to try something new too. #mschat
A4: It’s a bit tough to have a completely fresh start with 3 more weeks left of the semester, but revisiting goals & reminding Ss it’s never too late to grow seems to help. #mschat
A4: Every day offers a new beginning in my classroom. We all make mistakes and every day we turn over a new leaf. A new year is more about envisioning a new future so you can figure out how to live your best and learn your best day to day. #mschat
My Ss chose a precept in September. They do a written reflection about their progress. Not sure yet if I'm doing #OneWord or #SixWordMemoirs with that. #mschat
A4 - Fresh start by setting new goals based on a blank slate. We look at how the first half of the year went, and then how we can make adjustments for the second half. It’s also about relationships, relationships, relationships! Building trust that we can all try again. #mschat
A4: One of my colleagues @eva_koutrou started the year off with 5 minutes of mediation at the start of each class period. Just a free days in and she can see the benefits of these new, fresh starts each day. #mschat
A4 Second semester occurs a week after break, I start with blank slate & let Ss know that Growth can happen over break, need to give Ss the opportunity to show their new view #mschat
“Commit to try” has been a phrase I’ve been using for the past year or so with my students, with my colleagues, and in my own teaching practice. We have to model it! #mschat
A4: Since it’s a new year, make space for new beginnings. Model this for students—what are you going to do different in your teaching practice this year? Invite them to commit to try something new too. #mschat
A4: It’s a new grading period, so we’ll be starting new mission cards in our gamification. Fresh start, but still building on the levels they’ve earned so far. #mschat
A4 we talk about a fresh start at the start of the semester I even mention that students have a clean slate in morning announcements but not enough to just say it you must model it and you have to show them a lot of positive reinforcement and some trust #MSchat
A4: Every day is a fresh start toward greatness in my classroom. I remind my Ss to build on the positives they have encountered and to learn from those negatives that got in their way. #mschat
I always feel that too. Maybe use these weeks as the space to think about new things to try in the new semester? Encourage them to commit to try something new too? #mschat
A4: I feel like the semester (2.5 weeks away) is more the "new start". I try & keep things rolling right now & then restart w/ the new marking period. #mschat
A4: Every day offers a new beginning in my classroom. We all make mistakes and every day we turn over a new leaf. A new year is more about envisioning a new future so you can figure out how to live your best and learn your best day to day. #mschat
A4: In our lab, we run on reflection. I love catching kids off guard when they "miss it" and ask them, "How might you do that differently next time?" Takes the edge off of failures. #mschat
100 percent. I tell them this is what middle school is all about. I expect them to make mistakes, what matters is how they learn from those mistakes. #mschat
Might be worth the wait if you shuffle. We have same kids all year. This year ALL advisory teachers are doing it and then students will share and discuss in each class #mschat
100 percent. I tell them this is what middle school is all about. I expect them to make mistakes, what matters is how they learn from those mistakes. #mschat
It shocks them when they hear me say I expect them to make mistakes & be immature sometimes. Yowza, they’re 12! Normalize the error, y’all. They shouldn’t feel defective for just being normal. #mschat
In reply to
@coreythornblad, @TeacherRunner42, @d_mulder
RIGHT ON! Every middle schooler need to know that they have people in their corner, no matter what, and not because of anything they have done, but because they are inherently valuable, lovable, and worth of respect. I can’t say this enough! #mschat
I am pretty sure if you don't love mistakes, and the fact that kids are going to make them that you probably shouldn't be a teacher, especially a middle school teacher. The mistakes are where the learning happens. #mschat
RIGHT ON! Every middle schooler need to know that they have people in their corner, no matter what, and not because of anything they have done, but because they are inherently valuable, lovable, and worth of respect. I can’t say this enough! #mschat
True! Education is in a critical state. If you complain about your setting or student population more than uplift, it's time to reevaluate your happiness. Some people refuse to be culturally responsive in their practices, which is a huge crutch to student learning #mschat
Right! Students think teachers loved school and got all A's... I have a copy of my report card and show them when I failed a HS science class.... Then I show the retake grade and discuss the WHY #mschat
In reply to
@TeacherRunner42, @coreythornblad, @d_mulder, @Beyond_the_Desk
I am pretty sure if you don't love mistakes, and the fact that kids are going to make them that you probably shouldn't be a teacher, especially a middle school teacher. The mistakes are where the learning happens. #mschat
A4: I started a totally new bridge and met with each kid yesterday to talk about where they are and where they want to go. Discuss how goals have ups and downs- If you set a goal then screw up it doesn’t mean it is out the window- just need to try again #mschat
I did it a few years back when a student challenged me, told me I was making it up. SO It is part of a lesson 2nd week of school #mschat my failure in freshman bio!
In reply to
@TeacherRunner42, @coreythornblad, @d_mulder, @Beyond_the_Desk
It’s crazy popular! I tell them I have to be in the room but they can pick if I hang out w/them or not. They always want me to hang out w/ them, & it’s adorable. ❤️ it! #mschat
I tell my story of my mom coming up to the school to make a plan to send me back to 8th grade a quarter into my freshman year. If only I'd kept my artifacts as proof.
I love the growth mindset being displayed here. It really teaches a lesson. #mschat
Right! Students think teachers loved school and got all A's... I have a copy of my report card and show them when I failed a HS science class.... Then I show the retake grade and discuss the WHY #mschat
In reply to
@TeacherRunner42, @coreythornblad, @d_mulder, @Beyond_the_Desk
That's one of the things I like & stress about #oneword. It's about being your best self whether or not individual goals get met. You're still a better you. #mschat
My principal (who is also the mayor of our city) has his entire middle/ high school file including his IEP that he shares with the whole school community & talks about his struggles w/ literacy, ADD -very powerful #mschat
A6 I keep track of #NGSS standards w/scientific principles Where we have been with our principles will be our refresher They are one of our pillars that gets us back on track #mschat
A6: There is a lovely little book by Kieran Egan from the mid-80s called “Teaching as Storytelling.” Everyone remembers a good story. This has impacted my teaching and my students’ learning—and their recall—immensely. #mschat
A6: I try & use our typical schedule and flow of class. I get them started with a topic (first step, verbal ideas) and then let them talk in their teams. Most groups remember & help those that don't. #mschat
a6: we give 'optional' break work - students that complete it get a reward (dress down day / pizza lunch - depends) but no penalty for incomplete #mschat
A6: Teamwork. I have kids brainstorm content we have learned, discuss, then play a review game that allows them to discuss content together. If one doesn't remember, someone will -- and hearing a reminder from a classmate is way more powerful than coming from me. #mschat
I try not to let them know I was voted "most likely to sleep in class" my senior year but it occasionally slips out. :) Let Ss know we are real! #mschat
In reply to
@blocht574, @TeacherRunner42, @coreythornblad, @d_mulder, @Beyond_the_Desk
A6: we spiral review everything all year. It never goes away. We keep reviewing, retesting, and relearning. I will do this through warmups or by adding a review lab station or "skills test"#mschat
A5: Lots of movement & choice! We have our largest unit (research) all of February into March, but it’s all student-driven. Helps to brighten up the dreary, winter days. #mschat
A6: Teamwork. I have kids brainstorm content we have learned, discuss, then play a review game that allows them to discuss content together. If one doesn't remember, someone will -- and hearing a reminder from a classmate is way more powerful than coming from me. #mschat
A6: Visible thinking routines and thinking moves cover the walls. Ss in my maker class also journal about their making journey. This documentation helps them to see the growth in their thinking and understanding. #mschat#makered
A6: We do Weekly Reviews (10 questions) every week in class all year long. It helps to keep the most important concepts fresh throughout the year. #mschat
A6: Our schoolwill be having in school day tutorials to help the students we as the teacher thinks could use some extra intervention in a small group setting. #mschat
A6: I like to make a get started MadLib that is all about Me and what I have taught: There once was this (adj) teacher Mrs.Hanlon and before we went on our () break she spent 2weeks going over (). She may be the () teacher in the world because she insisted we know that... #mschat
A6: I like to make a get started MadLib that is all about Me and what I have taught: There once was this (adj) teacher Mrs.Hanlon and before we went on our () break she spent 2weeks going over (). She may be the () teacher in the world because she insisted we know that... #mschat
@classcraftgame is such an easy way to manage all of the game mechanics! PLUS their quests, boss battles, random events, and wheel of destiny (student randomizer) are so much fun! #mschat
In reply to
@Beyond_the_Desk, @classcraftgame, @classcraftgame
I have used it, this year the students seem to like @GetKahoot more and now they are making games at home to share in class so it is what we have been using #mschat
In reply to
@coreythornblad, @Beyond_the_Desk, @GetKahoot, @GetKahoot
@Beyond_the_Desk I’m so interested in learning more about your gamification process! What resources do you use/how did you come up with these ideas? #mschat
A7 - A giant Cobb Salad with lots of healthy veggies but some yummy meat thrown in as well. A balance of getting back to the good routines but still having some fun. #mschat
A5: Winter ended today...#houston Kidding, mostly. I do a big clean/declutter of the room before the Ss come back from break PLUS we change up the topics and I try to pick "cool stuff" for them to do and learn #mschat
A7: I'm excited to get back to work, but I know that not everyone is (at first). I would compare it to leftovers. At first you're like "Waaaa." Then once you heat it up, you're like, "That's right! I love this meal!" #mschat
As always, thank you for an incredible, #mschat! This teach has a Cold Day tomorrow, so I am off to an all-day grading marathon!:) #CatchingUpAfterBreak
A6: on going home is that my drawings are awful&inevitably look inappropriate or like 3yrold chimpanzee held pen-so sometimes I play “review pictionary” where I draw a bunch of nutty stuff&they have to guess what concept we have covered it is &what components are up there #mschat
