The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
This is the first time I’ll be dealing with a school shooting tragedy as a middle school teacher. As a 7th grade teacher, would you discuss the tragedy with your students? If so, how would you frame the discussion? #edchat#bfc530#LeadLAP#tlap
"A child of God is dead": Former CIA and FBI official Phil Mudd choked back tears as he confronted the grim details of the deadly school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida https://t.co/YMEbeE0ZKZ
How about if we stop testing kids to death and start putting that money toward kids and things that will really make a difference (like mental health professionals)? #bfc530
This quote spoke to me this morning following the tragedy in Florida yesterday. Thank you for being “hope” for so many students and colleagues, #bfc530 friends! #hope#FloridaShooting#ReasonsNotToGiveUp
What happened in florida was hard for us all.
Today, lets share a moment when we felt safe and at home in our buildings. Favorite moments.
And tag a teacher who was there. #loveteaching#bfc530
President Day here on Monday. When I was a kid, we celebrated both Washington & Lincoln's birthdays. Combined into one and my school district added a day on Friday #bfc530
In response to yesterday's tragedy. Please share a moment you felt safe and at home at school. Tag others were shared that experience. #loveteaching#bfc530
Know that you have the prayers and support of this Canadian, my American friends. I’m so sorry that such tragedies continue in our schools (and beyond our schools). #bfc530
Florida's tragedy will resonate a long-time with me, in thoughts and in prayer.
Reminder to NEVER become complacent in reviewing and practicing safety protocols.
#bfc530
Morning all- Twitter can bring out both the best and the worst in people following tragic days like yesterday, glad to have #bfc530 where I can always count on the former
Yesterday I was reading a book and got to a really good part when the character was reaching for something. I was very dramatic and I stopped and told them it was lunch time. There was mutant after that! #bfc530
Agreed. And if you have a culture of community building circles, start there. Start with a round of what they know, then how they are feeling, and then what questions they have. Let them know that whatever they are feeling is valid and that you may not have the answers. #bfc530
Good morning #bfc530 I'm not sure twitter or my mental state will after the latest school shooting will allow to stay in the chat today, but I wanted to say hello and thank each of you for doing the work you do each day.
Well I felt safer once my ex moved out- but still not safe enough. Today starts day one where I'm off from school to pack up this house to get away from the madness. Doing it alone is overwhelming. #bfc530
G’day! David joining from Sydney, Australia. Just catching up on the new# out of Florida. My prayers will be for that school community tonight. #bfc530
Our Smile Squad shared this video yesterday to start everyone off with a smile. Nothing like a good laugh to start your day in middle school.
https://t.co/uE9MadWNrZ#bfc530
After our school (Henryville) was hit my the tornado in March 2012, I realized there is no building that is safe. This does not mean to stop living, it just means that there are some things that will always be beyond your control. #bfc530
I feel safe in my building and in my classroom. I am naive and want to be. I cannot live in fear and I cannot have my short humans live in fear. #bfc530
How about if we stop testing kids to death and start putting that money toward kids and things that will really make a difference (like mental health professionals)? #bfc530
You know I always feet safe until the day after theses tragedies. Then I start to really wonder...
#bfc530
Oh yeah and cry because you know it could be anyone of us...
In response to yesterday's tragedy. Please share a moment you felt safe and at home at school. Tag others were shared that experience. #loveteaching#bfc530
Our Smile Squad shared this video yesterday to start everyone off with a smile. Nothing like a good laugh to start your day in middle school.
https://t.co/uE9MadWNrZ#bfc530
What happened in florida was hard for us all.
Today, lets share a moment when we felt safe and at home in our buildings. Favorite moments.
And tag a teacher who was there. #loveteaching#bfc530
G’day! David joining from Sydney, Australia. Just catching up on the news out of Florida. My prayers will be for that school community tonight. #bfc530
And then if they want to do something, help them in that direction. It’s easy to get lost in powerlessness so talk about who they can contact to make a change or what they can do at school to help everyone feel included or... #bfc530
Well I felt safer once my ex moved out- but still not safe enough. Today starts day one where I'm off from school to pack up this house to get away from the madness. Doing it alone is overwhelming. #bfc530
I feel safe every day at school. After 9/11 it was the place I wanted to be - supportive, consistent, predictable. When there was a sniper terrorizing the DC area, school was safe.
That is how our students should feel - safe in school, everyday. #bfc530
What happened in florida was hard for us all.
Today, lets share a moment when we felt safe and at home in our buildings. Favorite moments.
And tag a teacher who was there. #loveteaching#bfc530
As a parent, educator, & human being this is something That has kept me up at night- I try &calm myself by saying “control what I can &give the rest up to God”what I can control is what I teach my kids & students-2be kind,caring,thoughtful, productive members of society. #bfc530
I will always feel safe and at home at school ... we cannot allow tragedies define how we do business ... fear can not dictate policy ... our kids should not feel like they are walking into a prison so they can remain safe. #bfc530
As a parent, educator, & human being this is something That has kept me up at night- I try &calm myself by saying “control what I can &give the rest up to God”what I can control is what I teach my kids & students-2be kind,caring,thoughtful, productive members of society. #bfc530
We all acknowledge that teaching can be stressful. In our school a group of teachers acknowledged the work we do is hard but important. So they wanted to make sure that once a week they helped give Ts a reason to smile. #BFC530
What happened in florida was hard for us all.
Today, lets share a moment when we felt safe and at home in our buildings. Favorite moments.
And tag a teacher who was there. #loveteaching#bfc530
In response to yesterday's tragedy. Please share a moment you felt safe and at home at school. Tag others were shared that experience. #loveteaching#bfc530
They also put a bag of goldfish in everyone's mailbox with a note that said, "I'm glad you are a part of our school"
Have to love ELA teachers and their puns!
#BFC530@MrsTaylor313
My daily work is to provide children with emotional and intellectual safety so that they can take risks that allow them to grow. I usually feel able to do this. #bfc530
#bfc530 At times like this it is important to remind #students that our number one job as #teachers is to keep them safe, and that's what we will always do.
Agree with @MrTravisDrake:
Events like yesterday's are catalysts for reflection, recalibration and iteration. Yet, we must keep LIVING in schools and continue to be MINDFUL of students and environment.
#bfc530
I agree with you. Though I think we need some fundamental changes in access to guns too, I think education needs to really think about SEL and helping kids (and adults) have the skills they need to cope, advocate, communicate and collaborate. #bfc530
I am lucky and can honestly say I have rarely felt unsafe at school. It feels like home because of our lovely students and staff.
I want to help 100% of our Ss feel safe there too. Some do. But not al.
#bfc530
In response to yesterday's tragedy. Please share a moment you felt safe and at home at school. Tag others were shared that experience. #loveteaching#bfc530
There is so not enough money at my level for services, but if we stop testing so much, maybe there would be.. #bfc530 and hey maybe if we stopped testing some of the problems would go away.
I say we wear our emotions on our sleeves. Let them know that we care and that this sucks. This should make them scared and angry. and they should learn how to manage those feelings. #bfc530#LoveTeaching
These losses to our school communities are cumulative to the psyche and I think I’m hitting a saturation point myself. I don’t know what to say anymore. And I am emotional. #bfc530
Although I love the +s of tech, I do think that living in a digital world often makes our kids feel cut off, lonely, & depressed. How do we fight this? #bfc530
I say we wear our emotions on our sleeves. Let them know that we care and that this sucks. This should make them scared and angry. and they should learn how to manage those feelings. #bfc530#LoveTeaching
How we respond to tragedies define who we are ... how will we react? We will ask why did this happen or just build a wall and make new laws ... from news accounts suspect was a former student ... that is huge. #bfc530
When national events happen and kids need to talk...
1. Acknowledge the event
2. Acknowledge their fears and (maybe) share your own.
3. Remind them of how they are safe in your class/school.
4. Move on. Don't dwell.
#bfc530
It is important to remember that for so many Ss, school is their safe place. Safety has always been my priority. I am not looking forward to the difficult discussions, but my Ss need it. #bfc530
My heart bleeds for the teachers who, despite the training and drills, feel as if they've failed their students in that moment of helplessness. #bfc530
@bridget_adam This is the response I gave earlier with suggestions for today. I think being honest with your kids and letting them know how you are feeling the best you can is important. Having them know we are human and that we worry is crucial. #bfc530
In reply to
@LibrarianStacy, @dwsteven, @bridget_adam
All this makes a school shooting that much more tragic. We create safe spaces, we tell students they can bring their problems here, that all the adults in the building are here to help. Yet we are helpless to protect them. We'e got to change this! #bfc530
I feel safe every day at school. After 9/11 it was the place I wanted to be - supportive, consistent, predictable. When there was a sniper terrorizing the DC area, school was safe.
That is how our students should feel - safe in school, everyday. #bfc530
What happened in florida was hard for us all.
Today, lets share a moment when we felt safe and at home in our buildings. Favorite moments.
And tag a teacher who was there. #loveteaching#bfc530
I think the idea that the shooting of the week has become commonplace enough that we can give it a minute or reflection and move on speaks volumes about us as a people. #bfc530
While I always feel safe and at home at my school, this tragedy brings to the forefront that not all in my school may feel that way. Will be hugging the babies & will listen to any who want to talk. If there are tears, we will shed them together. #bfc530
I'm mindful that we all have an expiration date, and everyone of us is a day closer to it than we were yesterday. My Savior has sealed my future with His blood, so all that is left for me is to walk the best that I can in His footsteps. #bfc530
In the aftermath of terrible events like these, I tend to look critically at my school building. I think about escape plans, strongholds, choke points, and security breaches. #bfc530
Isn't that the truth. And the normalization of it has me wondering " okay, so what's the new drill gonna be with an active shooter and a fire alarm." We all know that's next on the agenda #bfc530
Maybe I’m naïve or an idealist but I’ve always felt safe at home or school. It’s impossible to plan for situations like Florida or Sandyhook, yet I realize there is a school out there that will be next. 😔💔 #bfc530
Although I love the +s of tech, I do think that living in a digital world often makes our kids feel cut off, lonely, & depressed. How do we fight this? #bfc530
I share similar feelings, Laura. However, we can never afford to take for granted what we have. Many schools around the world are safe havens for many, but things can change in a split second...it only takes one incident, one tragedy, one horrible choice. #bfc530
I am lucky and can honestly say I have rarely felt unsafe at school. It feels like home because of our lovely students and staff.
I want to help 100% of our Ss feel safe there too. Some do. But not al.
#bfc530
In response to yesterday's tragedy. Please share a moment you felt safe and at home at school. Tag others were shared that experience. #loveteaching#bfc530
I work in a school that doesn’t have a lot of resources but has a huge amount of kids who have experienced trauma here or as refugees. Because of that, SEL, RJ and culture have been prioritized. It has definitely made a difference. #bfc530
Your school almost needs a critical response policy for when incidents like this occur! Important for the discussion to be had in a gently, guided manner. Be aware of Ss that may need to talk to the counsellor because of trauma it might bring back. You’re in my prayers. #bfc530
We do too - no desks, they work in groups at tables & have meaningful extra curriculars. But when they go home some of them get lost in social media. I've been trying to educate parents.... #bfc530
Have a great day all. Knowing educators like all of you are working with kids each day is the positive they need in these days of trouble. I'm out! #bfc530
For me, this incident 'helps' deliver the message that guns/ violence are not the answer. Look to the voices who make a change, not the fist (weapon). #bfc530
#bfc530 Have a great day everyone. I will be sure to let my students know how much I care about them today. Not sure what else I can do to help any of us feel safer though.
Agree but what about SEL programs and interventions for all those outside of school that directly need SEL help/intervention and so many of them are directly responsible for school age children when not at school. #bfc530
There is so not enough money at my level for services, but if we stop testing so much, maybe there would be.. #bfc530 and hey maybe if we stopped testing some of the problems would go away.
Haha “Curious” was part the #bfc530 question the other day 😬👍🏻 yes it is definitely something I would love to implement. I try to do random acts of kindness on my own, but a whole “smile squad” would be awesome and positively effective! 😬😬😬😬
In reply to
@JohnFritzky, @tmanser71, @KathySm65881510
Welcome them to class. I couldn’t imagine going through an entire day and not being addressed in some way. Current hurt: being in hallways during passing periods making sure Ss are in dress code, have on an ID, and so on. How does welcome meet discipline? #bfc530
Although I love the +s of tech, I do think that living in a digital world often makes our kids feel cut off, lonely, & depressed. How do we fight this? #bfc530
Good morning,
The blessing of my craft is to share a life of someone who I believe is our most virtuous founding father. It is through his experiences that life lessons can be learned through a historical context. I travel through New Jersey often.
https://t.co/BFiTOvZPNO#bfc530
Morning, #bfc530. As I've seen many do before, I'm taking page from Mr. Rogers today. https://t.co/JNl9qUCPcF Feeling afraid & angry is sometimes natural. In such moments, consciously seeking other emotions -- often in conversation w/other people -- can make a difference.
