A1 - Usually, relating material back to the students or having them relate with concrete examples can help with retention and incorporate the 'why'.
#MakeItReal
A1: Don't just incorporate the "why" but make it the focal point of the design of the lesson! If it doesn't dictate the activities and student experience, then it will feel "added in" #MakeItReal
A1: The "Why" for my subject is usually easy, but sometimes Ss don't understand why English is important. So I remind them that I want every door to be opened for them in life, & the more they know, the more opportunities to do things. :) #MakeItReal
A1: Don't just incorporate the "why" but make it the focal point of the design of the lesson! If it doesn't dictate the activities and student experience, then it will feel "added in" #MakeItReal
Q1: Making the "WHY" behind content was always difficult for me until I used themed internships. This allowed the "WHY" to be the focus from the moment they walked in, to the moment they walked out. AND Ss could see their learning in action when in our community #MakeItReal
A1: In Instant Relevance I talk about how to stop pretending that "Real world" applications are actually real, and find ways to EXTRACT real lessons from passion and experience. That hits the why every time #MakeItReal
A1: Trying to get much more consistent with this! In language classrooms we use "I can" statements to drive student learning. I could definitely connect more with the "why" in those statements.
#MakeitReal
A1: I ask kids when they think they might use it. Sometimes they have the same why as I did, sometimes different, but let them try to guess first. Also, I start the year with the rule that they can always ask why. If I can’t answer, we stop doing it immediately. #makeitreal
A1: Allow the students to make connections to their experiences in and out of the classroom. Constantly remind yourself of YOUR “why” and students will find it, too. #MakeItReal
A1: I ask kids when they think they might use it. Sometimes they have the same why as I did, sometimes different, but let them try to guess first. Also, I start the year with the rule that they can always ask why. If I can’t answer, we stop doing it immediately. #makeitreal
A1: Guest speakers from the community are awesome! I have set questions that Ss ask the guests, and I LOVE having them ask about ongoing learning/training. Ss are always surprised to find out people still learn stuff after HS. #MakeItReal
A2: community members, parents and other teachers have so many rich experiences to share , and they've put their education into action. Having them share their stories is very powerful to kids #MakeItReal
Q2: In my classroom, students learn by participating in Themed Internships sponsored by Local Businesses! Why? Because this allows our "why" behind content is present every day throughout student learning! "When will I ever use this in the real world?" #MakeItReal
Well...not this week...fall break :)
But last week we covered the sleep cycle, negative effects of sleep deprivation on the body and performance at school. #makeitreal
The community goes far beyond the school -- families, cities, partners -- and people should feel as if schools are a part of that larger picture. The "why" isn't to do well in school but to help improve the local and global community. #MakeItReal A2
A1: I like to showcase the “why” if possible, especially if it’s a good hook. I’d say the struggle (most often) is bridging the gap between the “why” and a “why” my teenagers actually care about. #MakeItReal
True! That's why listening is so important. I even "listened" by assigning my math students a journal assignment every other week. I learned so much about their personal interests, and responded with mine, that we found a common "why" faster than you think #MakeItReal
Q2: Use Community to emphasize Content!
Most Community Members have NO idea what occurs in the classroom. However, our community is LIVING our content! So emphasize the WHY in learning using the community! #MakeItReal
This is an incredibly important difference! Finding BOTH is Essential!!! Have you found a way to make this a priority in your lesson planning? What hurdle are you encountering that you still need to brainstorm? #MakeItReal
I have Ss practice turning "off" casual register in class. We elevate our speech:
*We don't have to "be smart" to "sound smart"
*Ex: Say "that is like a vacuum" instead of sucks.
*Some interviews/ jobs need you to speak a bit more formally than you do with friends. #MakeItReal
#MakeitReal A2 We use the outside community to help with the why. Great example was when Congressman John Lewis spoke about civil rights and the March on Washington. He spoke of why it was necessary to protest even though he knew what consequences he could face. Powerful!
A2: reach out to parents, families, and friends - ask students to do the same - google hangouts can be a great way to bring different why’s and perspectives to your classroom. #MakeItReal
Fantastic!!! Sharing stories with our students is one thing. But having leaders and experts share their own stories makes a lasting impact! #MakeItReal
A2: Use your community to help students explore their interests- community members are sometimes valuable resources. Students can learn about the impact they can have on their community. #MakeItReal
This chat is FLYING! Love seeing these answers of how you are going to support making your content more Purposeful with Community Stakeholders! #MakeitReal
When I taught careers, I had guest speakers in as often as possible, but once a month minimum. I had Ss make a list of jobs they'd like speakers from, & I even had an FBI agent in Wingtips show up once. The kids had never seen a 3 piece suit. :) I use only 4 in Eng. 2 #MakeItReal
Q3: Anytime guests are in the classroom, teachers I work with often are so nervous!
Many believe, when you welcome people in, you also welcome criticism. But this has NEVER been my experience. Guest Community Members often leave inspired and rejuvenated #MakeItReal
#MakeitReal A3 The benefits: hearing the story. Textbooks not needed. Students become engaged in learning because they are able to interact and ask questions. Here is our story with Mike Eruzione.
https://t.co/9jMOLVu7SN
A2: Use your community to help students explore their interests- community members are sometimes valuable resources. Students can learn about the impact they can have on their community. #MakeItReal
A2: When they share context (or even give kids real projects!), comm. members add value to the learning by showing immediately when they’ll need the info they’re learning. Plus, there’s nothing cooler than seeing a 12 year old use industry vocab in an authentic convo #MakeitReal
A3: I've found that when bringing in a guest speaker, always have a list of questions your Ss need to ask. Assign Ss a question before hand. This relaxes the guest & gets them started talking to Ss, plus it covers the things I want them to share as they respond to Ss. #MakeItReal
Q3 : Benefits ... There are countless benefits! Having Community Members Echo our message is invaluable, as it emphasizes the value of our content! #MakeItReal
A2: When they share context (or even give kids real projects!), comm. members add value to the learning by showing immediately when they’ll need the info they’re learning. Plus, there’s nothing cooler than seeing a 12 year old use industry vocab in an authentic convo #MakeitReal
We can, even more so now, because the technology is there to bring the world in to our Ss. We need to get over the "that's not in my curriculum" & see the benefits go beyond curriculum. #MakeItReal
A3: Fear? None
Benefits? Someone else sharing a valuable point about learning. Someone sharing an inspiring story about challenges. Someone else inspiring my students to become more. Someone else seeing that school is a new place now.
#MakeItReal
Informally, when you know someone can do something interesting, just ask. Also ask kids what their parents do.
Formally, we formed a Speakers Bureau, got all the local people we wanted on it approved by the school, then we could ask any without needing clearance #MakeItReal
A2: Id like to invite in more Spanish speaking members of the community to show kids the usefulness of Spanish in daily life. Also would be great to show some models for our students who are native Spanish speakers.
#MakeitReal
Yes! So many! Depending on what you are thinking of starting with - I have about 5 blogs on this topic at https://t.co/YgTo1An9JO! (Small and Large Ways to involve your community!) #MakeItReal
Start with graduates who are doing cool things, have them talk to Ss maybe from where they work, & then they'll see that where you are from isn't as important as where you're going. #makeitreal
#MakeItReal Not all visitors are virtual. Fortunate to have Kyle Cook of Matchbox 20 share his story, music and guitar 🎸 abilities with our students.
A3b: My District set up a senior career day where we brought in community members to talk to Ss on different topics, had the counselors there to help with FAFSA, teach them finance basics, etc. #MakeItReal
A3: My hurdles include taking time away from more "academic" parts of instruction to invite in community members. It can require a lot of planning and time to coordinate and I'm already busy all day long. The benefits are amazing, though! Adding this to my goals.
#MakeItReal
Some. Our state has us track graduates for a while after they graduate. We have to know what they are doing, we we can always contact them. A friend of mine is a robotics engineer stationed at Disney World. Said he'd talk to my Ss anytime by Skype or Google Hangouts. #MakeItReal
#MakeItReal Also has Philo Barnhart, creator of Ariel from The Little Mermaid and his friend Charles Moisant visit and share about animation and art. Here is Mr Barnhart drawing Flounder.
I love this offer to assist! Thank you, Rae. Let me get a few ideas together and I'll reply back. This has me thinking. For ex: I can use the days of the week to help a Spanish speaker understand a schedule of events in Richmond. So many possibilities!
#earlylang#Makeitreal
