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.
Welcome to the #2PencilChat! We're giving unsolicited advice to EVERYONE in the schoolhouse. Say hey and tell us the best - or worst! - advice that's been given to you unsolicited.
Hallo, #2PencilChat! Sean in St. Augustine, mostly 3rd grade, your pal at Buncee... best advice - you have to make it personal, but don't take it personally.
Hello #2PencilChat! Lauren from NY - 6th grade English teacher and author of EMPOWER Your Students. Best advice ever was when @vicpasquantonio told me to go visit @jhweinstein in Baltimore. Now we’re married with 2 kids...3 if you count the book.
Hello everyone. My name is Luis and I’m an ELL HS teacher, tech coach, and director from RI. Worse advice I ever got was to start class being real mean and show the students who is boss. That was a long time ago. #2PencilChat
Jennifer from Fl, MS social studies. Worst unsolicited advice? A S told me if she had a couple hours with me she could give me a makeover and I'd look good. Endearing. #2PencilChat
Delighted to be with such an awe-inspiring group of educators! Truly an honour! Let’s get this party started with our great leader, @MagicPantsJones ! #2PencilChat
Hey, hey #2PencilChat! Michelle, Media Specialist from Daytona Beach here! Best unsolicited advice: apply to teach at Bonner Elementary. It really was great advice and many of my families from there are MY family!
A1 Advice to achievers: figure out what matters to you. If you got the straight A’s, the elite College acceptance, the perfect job, the perfect salary—then what? How do you want to live the life you’re so busy planning?
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A1: That is a tough one. I would say how could we stretch that Ss or get them on a project that has no real solution. Bring out their creativity. #2pencilchat
A1. Make sure you are true to yourself and are reaching for your goals and aspirations whatever they might be. It’s okay to change your mind, that’s what being young and learning is all about. #2PencilChat
A1.2 Also, sometimes those Ss are afraid to be themselves. Find something they are passionate about and let them lead the way. Building character and leadership and teaching them to have a sense of humor. :) #2pencilchat
A1- I might share stories of hard-won success from entrepeneurs, athletes, authors, etc.. that perseverance matters and that grades aren't the be-all and end-all. Perfectionism can be pretty unhealthy- so offering opportunities for process vs. product #2PencilChat
A2- I wish they listened (and believed) when I said that they were unique; that there was only one of them and that they had gifts that noone else had. #2PencilChat
A2. You are young and will not be in school forever. Your world will enlarge and your social circle will get bigger. You will have more choices and options about what you want to do with your life. #2PencilChat
I used to say that kids need to learn to fall and get up early, and it's hard to do if we don't let them fall. The longer you wait to learn to fall, the more it hurts!
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A2 The advice I would like my ELs to listen to is that although things are so hard in the beginning they do get better. I want them to resist the urge to quit and go get a job. #2pencilchat
A2: Trying to solve that million dollar question everyday! Letting them know that these things do not determine your worth or value. The learning process should be the best part of school. The stigma seems to be: Tests are going to determine your future #2pencilchat
A2. It's about the process. It's about the progress. Celebrate every little step of growth that you make. It does not matter how sl8w it happens, just that it happened. #2PencilChat
A2 Same advice to discouraged students: figure out what matters to you. Don’t do the work because I told you it’s important. Do it because YOU told you it’s important. #2PencilChat
A1. As an A or bust student myself it is stressful for us too! My advise is that your grades to not always reflect your knowledge. Learn to learn, not just for the grade. #2pencilchat#gen2108
A2: “Your ability to make the world a better place is greater than you’ll ever give yourself credit for.” How would I share it with them? Often. #2PencilChat
YES! I only have 3 in my class and they are so smart and talented. Only 2 of them really apply themselves. I am working on the other one. Finding their interests has really helped. #2pencilchat
A1:Success is more than just the grades. Success can be found in how you treat others, apply critical thinking skills to stressful situations, and work together to achieve a common goal. #2pencilchat
I feel like that could be difficult for students to listen to because they don’t have the experience that teachers do, seeing all the different types of students and people. Usually experience or travel can bring that understanding #2pencilchat
Dropping in for a few min while @ board meeting
A2: Likely to identify some time- anytime when they were successful/satisfied with their results. Focus on how it felt. Build on those positive feelings. Write it down or draw that event to refer to again when struggle #2pencilchat
A2: Share your experiences with them. Everyone has a "failure" at some point in life. The key is resiliency and getting back up and pushing forward. #2pencilchat
A2- I wish they believed me when I told them that already ARE readers and writers; that as long as they have stories in their hearts the skills are secondary. #2PencilChat
OMG! I actually heard a teacher tell a kid that becoming a better reader was important because of the state test! It was all I could do to not... #2PencilChat
Q3
Look at that teacher down the hall - the one who's always super discouraged about the way things are going in their classroom, or in education in general. What advice can help them stay the course?
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#2PencilChat My 2 girls. One is a stressed out mess because she wants triple digit grades. The other works hard but doesn't let grades rule or ruin her life & the lives of those of us around her. #crazy amounts of homework
Today I stopped the last 10 minutes of the day and just chatted with them. I know, I know (Don't waste time in class) BUT Every kid was engaged and laughing and we tied it to Science. Plus they all get fist bumps at the end of the day. They keep ME going! #2pencilchat
A3: Remember why you fell in love with this profession. Remember the passion and the excitement. Remember the desire to help and love. Cling to that! #2PencilChat
A3: You need to believe in your value before our children will believe in their worth. Let me help you find meaning and value in what is discouraging - otherwise- you gotta to go.... #2PencilChat
A3 Quit. :) No just kidding although sometimes that is what I want to say. I try to help that teacher find positive ways to reach the students. Often making some positive statements can turn the mood around. #2pencilchat
A3 Same advice to discouraged teachers: figure out what matters to you. You didn’t choose your students, your room, your schedule, your curriculum, or the standards. You can choose how you approach your teaching, your students, your colleagues, and yourself. #2PencilChat
A3. life is comprised of conflicts don’t let them break you, because at the end of the day you are making a difference in at least one student’s life #2pencilchat#gen2108
A1 Achievers need to stay on course. Hopefully, their Ts will provide challenging work for them & they will get to explore their passions. #2PencilChathttps://t.co/KZV7UJ1x7k (Carol ELA Consultant from Long Island)
A3: Keep moving forward! Only look in the rear view mirror to reflect and develop solutions! Find a mentor that inspires you, and motivate one another! Everyone needs a cheerleader! #2PencilChat
A3: Believe in who you are and what you’ve committed to...this is truly your vocation...your kids need you and you do change lives for the better...one step at a time! #2PencilChat
haha! If they only knew. :) I am VERY good at going down rabbit holes during a lesson. But they NEED that brain break and to show I am human and I care about them. #2pencilchat
A3 Remember why you came into the profession. Bring your passion to the classroom to engage your Ss in joyful havens of learning. #2PencilChathttps://t.co/eUZSbKnPOG
A3: Snap out of it. The fight is too important to allow yourself to focus on dread. Your kids are the ones suffering the consequences of your pessimism. And if you can’t, change professions #2PencilChat
A1: Your level of effort can never be fully captured in a letter. You're a story and the story cannot be trapped inside of a letter! BOOM! #2PencilChat
A3. I would discuss rapport. Is it being developed? I would discuss what I know is going well in the room. And see what might back the easiest thing to tackle to try to change. #2PencilChat
I tell mine about my struggles on the road to becoming a teacher. It took me a while and several set backs, but I really wanted to do it and didn't give up. Makes us real to them! #2pencilchat
Q4
The best administrators are trying to bring up achievement, and build an empowering school culture for all. What advice do you have for an administrator with such ambitions?
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A3: here to see the answers! I'm sure I will have a few days like this as a new teacher! So advice to my future self is: how many people did I make smile that day?
I tell my children to make as many people smile everyone morning, because a smile can change a life
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And that's the true strength of the journey...the times where it didn't go right and perhaps the ___ hit the ____...but you did not stop. That's the power of persverance...power of struggle, I love it! #2PencilChat
A3:I have a great team but we all have to give each other pep talks. My personality is very laid back so I don't sweat the small stuff. What are the GOOD things that are happening? The not so good things can be changed. How can you make the good things even better? #2pencilchat
A4: Listen. Ask questions. Get into classrooms as much as possible. Don't think about this year- think about these kids 10, 20, 30 years from now- what do we want them to contribute? What messages are they getting from us right now? #2PencilChat
A4 know your population of teachers and students before making a decision. I have seen a bunch of decisions lately that don’t seem to take either into account #2PencilChat
A4 Advice: Build a culture of trust and engagement in stu-centered classrooms. Foster #growthmindset. Model positive behavior with staff. Watch the excitement build for a joyful school.
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#2pencilchat A1 In @DonWettrick#geniusbook he describes assignments/activities that revolve around expressing outcomes rather than reciting facts. Start there. “How is your life affected by the Uzbek invasion of Khorasan?”
A4. Rome wasn't built in a day!! Focusing on achievement is important, but so is making sure that we have a positive school culture for both the students and the staff. Remember The Hierarchy of Needs. #2PencilChat
A4: Collaboration, dedication, commitment, and follow through. Everyone is watching you. Share your vision, seek feedback from your faculty, and if you talk the talk, you must walk the walk! #2PencilChat
A4. Remember that children are curious by nature. Creating curriculum’s that inspire students to learn about topics that interest them is key to participation and greater achievement #2pencilchat#gen2108
A1: I would give them a bonus task that they'll have to work hard for, but not for a grade. Something they would be interested in and enjoy doing just without me rewarding them. Like a side quest on @classcraftgame#gamification#gbl#2PencilChat
#2pencilchat A2 In y life I’ve known few who got it right the first time. Ma6be it’s hackneyed but Jobs’ “The journey is the reward.” Really is right on the mark. Find n share stories like that..
A4 If you allow Ts to be creative, empower them to do what is right for Ss, then the results will be positive. Happy students and happy teachers tend to create a learning environment that is more conducise to positive results. #2pencilchat
A2: I tell them how on 12th grade, on the final math test before the matriculation, I blacked out and got a zero. I thought my life was over. I try to have 1:1 talks with them #2PencilChat
#2pencilchat A3b Short on FX but long on story Jimmy Stewart in The Spirit of St Louis.. spiraling down to certain doom.. finding something deep within that (spoiler alert) brought triumph & salvation. That.
A5: Be invested. Ask questions. Have conversations. Extend the learning to beyond school. Learning truly is a lifetime thing..not limited to 6 hours a day. #2PencilChat
Breaking News: @CanAllSucceed just became the No.1 Book on @amazon! More and more are joining the #bendingED movement each day! Join other transformative leaders and teachers who are bending constructs in schools! Thank you to all who have purchased and being part of movement!
A3: Don't worry about the education system as a whole. Make the change in you four cubits (Hebrew). After you share your "island of success" other Ts will follow. #2PencilChat
I just discovered this chat & will join on time next time! A4 give your faculty PLC time to explore and discuss new trends in education that may benefit your school! #2pencilchat
When I’m checking in with some of my favorite principals at FS Scott Key and they’ve been studying up! Do I want to model #Eduprotocols at a staff meeting with you... yes please! #Ironchef is on! #WeAreSFUSD
A5. Children are unique in both their learning and personality. They are the future leaders and should be raised and encouraged to reflect this #2pencilchat#gen2108
Got to run Sean. I am working on my online winter gallery of artistic expressions that will come out soon. Stay tuned. I have two @Buncees in it so far. #2PencilChat
A5: Tell parents the good stuff. But be specific. Academic stuff should be last. Let them know how proud they should be. (All levels of learners too.) #2pencilchat
A5 Support your children but don't make excuses for them. Encourage them and hold them accountable for their actions both at home and in school. Together we can help them grow. #2pencilchat
A5. Never put your child down in front of others. Praise in public. Punish in private. Also, truly listen to your child. Sometimes, they actually have really good, deep stuff to say. #2PencilChat
A5: For parents...”You’ve placed your very best in our care...we will appreciate and love them, help them to learn and help them to reach their great potential...let’s do this together!” #2PencilChat
A5 Parents need to know what kids value and how to collaborate with teachers to make school meaningful. Also teachers need to know what kids value and how to collaborate with parents to make school meaningful. #2PencilChat
I'm so glad you found us, Mary! Each week, I'm joined by some of the best teachers in the world! Can't wait to have you on board next week! #2PencilChat
A5: don't just share the bad with parents. Students need cheerleaders at home as well as school...parents may not know how awesome their kids are rocking your class #2pencilchat
A5 failure and stumbling are part of learning. All children grow from it when it is seen as part of a process and not part of the person. Access and experience or lack thereof, doesn't define the value or the trajectory of the S.. Don't make that part of the legacy #2PencilChat
A4: Focus are you measuring knowledge or skills? What you measure is what you value. Are you all about the state score charts on the standardized tests or teaching your Ss the SKILLS they're gonna need in life? #2PencilChat
I think PD for Ps should open with this quote: "The only thing a child needs is an adult who believes in him" by Shlomo Carlebach, "The Singing Rabbi" (1950's). Then watch Rita Pierson (twitter handle?) @TEDTalkshttps://t.co/UCT6KFJdQD
A5. Shared experiences and goals build strong family ties. Problems often arise if expectations aren't met, so those need to be communicated clearly. Teach your kids how to communicate. #2pencilchat
#2pencilchat A5 You know those assignments where Ss have to present a poster or trifold? You know, the one parents do for them that looks near perfect? Remind Ps that Ts are on to ‘em. That it’s about Ss expressing self.
Go through the archive of the night, and follow all of these people. Most will follow back, and you'll add to each other's classroom for a long time! #2PencilChat
A5 the daily struggles & successes of their Ss school day. I take parent-teacher chat seriously and they hear from me very frequently. We are all on the same team! I enjoy sharing anecdotes they can ask their kiddo about during dinnertime. #2PencilChat
