#Edchat is a hashtag, a movement—it is a weekly organized Twitter discussion of educators and people interested in education that meet virtually from all over the world. #Edchat serves as a conversation thread on Twitter and is also used for organized weekly discussions.
Positivity is key! The culture sets the tone for both faculty and students. I like to approach my school days with this quote: "Be the reason someone smiles today!" #edt5335#edchat
One more time. With feeling. // Inclusion is not a place, a service, or a strategy. It’s a mindset. It’s that simple. Everyone belongs. #ThinkInclusive#EdChat#SpedChat
#edchat I think that, given the fact that culture is constructed by people, the staff does dictate the culture of the school to a greater or lesser extent.
If school culture is so powerful in affecting a school, Superintendents should assess the culture of each of the schools in their districts on a regular basis. #Edchat
The principal sets the tone or culture of a school, period. I've worked under 8 principals at 3 schools in the same system. If the principal is machiavellian it's like working in a Matilda novel. If they are fair, show respect & support, that blossoms down to the kids. #Edchat
If those are new faculty members, absolutely. If you're talking about faculty who are changing in their philosophies (like myself), it means small shifts within the classroom rather than open defiance. #edchat
School culture has a lot of contributors. Parental involvement, teacher buy-in, student engagement, being successful toward goals helps as well. Those are just a few. #edchat
It’s International Women’s Day, and we have been learning about a very brave person called @Malala . 1 child, 1 teacher, 1 book, and 1 pen can change the world. So can we. #IWD2018 ##internationalwomensday
Absolutely right. What I try to do is surround myself with colleagues who aren't satisfied with the status quo and who will build me and others up. #edchat
In reply to
@WingItMomStyle, @blairteach, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973
#edchat They SHOULD be given some special attention and discussion (privately) by the principal. If it IS the principal...teachers may start fleeing that school, which sends a message, one would hope.
I do this, too! I have a group that meets weekly to brainstorm or bounce ideas off each other. It’s extremely helpful and enlightening! #edchat#edt5335
In reply to
@teachermike72, @blairteach, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973
We'd like to think that educators set the culture. They contribute, but with all the evaluations, expectations, and end test results, the cultural moral is top down. #edchat
“School” is hard! For you, me and all in between. Learning about each other paves the way to understanding. Being right is not usually the place that includes dialogue. #edchat
I’m an eternal optimist, but I think pointing out positives and stopping negative talk right away can help shift some people’s mindsets over time. #edchat#edt5335
Jumping in late here. I agree with the chicken & egg point and can be healthy or toxic. The culture is of course the people. Do we have a strong culture based on the mission and vision. Does our culture begin with high expectations for all S? Is there collective efficacy? #edchat
I have found that pressure from the district office can trickle down and create a negative culture in a school where there was a positive one in the past. #Edchat
indeed, culture very complex --> @3DChampion@jeffhiseredu ... i try to start where I am, do what i can with what i have, and grow from there. How about you? Where to start? #edchat
In reply to
@3DChampion, @3DChampion, @jeffhiseredu
I think it's worth adding to the "how we will work together document" a few things: 1. You are part of a team. If the team isn't healthy, nothing else can be. 2. As a leader of any kind, you are like a we did signal be a 10 not a 3! #edchat
There are so many dedicated, innovative, and compassionate teachers thinking about the learners; we need the same from administrations to see this as a cultural win. #edchat
3. It's an honor, not a job. We impact kids lives every day. 4. The number 1 julob we have is to take care of each other.
Our student code mirrors this. #edchat
Yes. Parental attitude and student attitude can definitely drag down the school’s morale. However, having taught inner city, the key is to reach the students and parents by staying focused on the primary goal of education! #edchat#edt5335
Culture is about community. We can't have a solid school culture without buy-in from the entire community: administration, educators, parents, and students. #edchat
Late joining! Agreed. We have to surround ourselves with positive people who are looking to improve and grow. We should avoid those who are complacent and accept mediocrity. #edchat
Absolutely right. What I try to do is surround myself with colleagues who aren't satisfied with the status quo and who will build me and others up. #edchat
In reply to
@WingItMomStyle, @blairteach, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973
Give students choices whenever you can, however you can. You'll give them control, or at least the illusion it. Engagement will go up, disruptions will go down. #Edunators#edchat
My school has a sunshine committee that spreads positivity to the faculty and staff. We potluck and do silly games. It helps keep the joy. #edchat#edt5335
In reply to
@teachermike72, @WingItMomStyle, @blairteach, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973
Regarding the toxic folks...we need 2 assess. R they influential? R they the priests & priestesses? If yes, it's tough & will take time. Need to celebrate T who r working hard, have a love of students, and know teaching and learning. Peel them off from toxic folks. #edchat
We will be taking a control what we control approach this year. We can control our energy. We can control our enthusiasm for our students. We can control our effort. Keep the outside, outside. #edchat
I think you need to start small. Helping people discover problems is step one. Many times people develop and research ideas after they actually identify a problem. #edchat
What is really difficult is that some T are great with students, and successful in the classroom, but are toxic with colleagues. How much do they hurt the culture? #edchat
On a practical level, yes. But the culture is truly dictated from the top. And that influences the parent/student either negatively or positively. #Edchat
But how do you focus on where you are with what you have, when the constant message is "less about growth and more about reaching this finish line"? #Edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @3DChampion, @jeffhiseredu
We will be taking a control what we control approach this year. We can control our energy. We can control our enthusiasm for our students. We can control our effort. Keep the outside, outside. #edchat
Join the chat!
I'll be hosting #aussieED with the fabulous @TECHpaloozaGC team this Sunday and we're ready to talk about professional learning.
The good, the bad and the ugly!
See you there?
#aussieED#edtech#edchat#edu
Teachers who feel they’re perspectives validated and listened to sends a message of “this is a good place to be a teacher” and “we can work together to make Learning accessible to all” #edchat
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Teachers who feel they’re perspectives validated and listened to sends a message of “this is a good place to be a teacher” and “we can work together to make Learning accessible to all” #edchat
Let's not forget the most important group in our schools, the students. The culture of a school has an enormous impact on them and they have no control over the organization. They should. #edchat
Research can really help/influence folks about the importance of social capital, and maintaining a healthy culture. Schools with a collaborative culture are often very successful. Appeal to our better angels. It's not about kumbaya, it's about helping students succeed. #edchat
I think we land on starting with the wrong things. We try to tweak here & there without examination of what we are foundationally about. Culture has to start with a focus on the actual individual kids in your school & an acknowledgement that staff is all on the same team #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @RitaWirtz, @laurie_azzi, @HarveyAlvy1, @theASIDEblog
Culture is what we create in our everyday actions - both implicit and explicit expectations and what we say and do when no one appears to be watching #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @HarveyAlvy1
Growth has to be considered during any change. Growth is an indicator of the rate of change. Kind of like a formative assessment in classrooms and we all hope to cross the finish line. #edchat
In reply to
@sgthomas1973, @ShiftParadigm, @jeffhiseredu
When we start with actual students with names in mind and can remember that our shared goal is those kids, the culture can be built. When we make it about mandates, tests, grades, etc. The culture can't be healthy. It's focused wrong. #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @RitaWirtz, @laurie_azzi, @HarveyAlvy1, @theASIDEblog
Additionally, is there a way to translate their positive culture in their classroom to the school? Can we help create positive interactions and relationships between that colleague by making them a good example? Having others learn from them? #edchat
"Empathy is a choice, and it's a vulnerable choice because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling"
Empathy is an important aspect of connecting with students and building trust. #education#edchathttps://t.co/mbq3v9E1L8
Huh? I mean that the schools in question don't offer a compelling vision or true learning, just statistical data or goals for test scores. Not about growth, just about racking up numbers. Does that make sense? #edchat
Agreed. If the school leader is positive and making an effort to create a positive culture, there is a chance for it to permeate the school. If the boss is toxic, ZERO chance. #edchat
In reply to
@blairteach, @DrGodard, @teachermike72, @sgthomas1973
Definitely. A negative culture will be "felt" by the Ss. They will see Ts arguing, not getting along. They will see admin. disrespecting teachers. Personal example is very important. With parents, a positive culture is welcoming, "We welcome your visit to the school!" #edchat
I think we land on starting with the wrong things. We try to tweak here & there without examination of what we are foundationally about. Culture has to start with a focus on the actual individual kids in your school & an acknowledgement that staff is all on the same team #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @RitaWirtz, @laurie_azzi, @HarveyAlvy1, @theASIDEblog
...buy-in brings with it 'responsibility' as in 'who' is responsible for 'what' 'when' and 'how'... job descriptions for Ts, Adms show the current ed system is largely silent on responsibility...... and there are no descriptions for Ps, Ss...and other stakeholders. #edchat
When we start with actual students with names in mind and can remember that our shared goal is those kids, the culture can be built. When we make it about mandates, tests, grades, etc. The culture can't be healthy. It's focused wrong. #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @RitaWirtz, @laurie_azzi, @HarveyAlvy1, @theASIDEblog
I think it's less about coercing people into learning from good examples and more about connection at a human to human level. Happy hour is education's magic bullet. 😉When people connect, they naturally share and care and work together. #edchat
In reply to
@timwolffSSD, @mssackstein, @HarveyAlvy1
This can be an issue. Change rarely happens overnight. Hard to grasp that, but very true. Often we don't give ideas enough time to develop before moving on to the next one. #edchat
When we start with actual students with names in mind and can remember that our shared goal is those kids, the culture can be built. When we make it about mandates, tests, grades, etc. The culture can't be healthy. It's focused wrong. #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @DrGodard, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @RitaWirtz, @laurie_azzi, @HarveyAlvy1, @theASIDEblog
The support staff is also very important to the school culture. Impressions of the culture affects visitors to a school just as they enter and interact with the main office staff. #Edchat
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I might have missed this on another tweet, but Ts stay in schools where the culture respects their work, new Ts need 2 be embraced & mentored. Ts leave schools, not because of S discipline issues, but because they feel unsupported. Principals r a key factor: up or down. #edchat
for sure put in effort and work as team... so what's the goal? Ed system can't seem to agree... sad! Impossible to build culture with our agreed upon goal, clear roles and responsibilities and common language. #edchat#edt5335@LMcGee05@dubioseducator@ktenkely@HarveyAlvy1
In reply to
@LMcGee05, @dubioseducator, @mssackstein, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @HarveyAlvy1, @LMcGee05, @dubioseducator, @ktenkely, @HarveyAlvy1
One of the biggest components of change is how it's presented. If we point fingers, people are already defensive. We must see the problem and find collective solutions. #edchat
Ahh, but admin have the control. They should push what they believe is the best for learners. The ED system is not sitting in our local districts, they set policy not culture. That is a problem. #edchat
...buy-in brings with it 'responsibility' as in 'who' is responsible for 'what' 'when' and 'how'... job descriptions for Ts, Adms show the current ed system is largely silent on responsibility...... and there are no descriptions for Ps, Ss...and other stakeholders. #edchat
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Admins need to be conscious not only of the pressure placed on them from the district, but of pressure placed on the teachers. Open, honest communication, along with open ears for influential change. #edchat#edt5335
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @LMcGee05, @dubioseducator, @mssackstein, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @HarveyAlvy1, @ktenkely
Goal should be first to connect as a staff as humans. Get to know each other. We are a team. Hard to act like a team when only point of connection is lame ice breaker at beginning of the year. #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @LMcGee05, @dubioseducator, @mssackstein, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @HarveyAlvy1
Yep. Support main office staff matter... so @tomwhitby what behaviors, values, etc. should they reflect? And where do those behaviors, values etc come from? A spontaneous eruption after lunch? Come on, from where? #edchat@sgthomas1973@HarveyAlvy1@stephenkelley85
In reply to
@tomwhitby, @tomwhitby, @sgthomas1973, @HarveyAlvy1, @stephenkelley85
Yes, definitely. Structures are particularly difficult obstacles. Where do the abstract structures begin and end...and how do we address the people involved? A school is only a building, it's the people that make it healthy or toxic. A little abstract, sorry! #edchat
I agree it needs to happen on a human level through the building of postive relationships (happy hour can help) but if some need help I think we need to expose them to good examples. #edchat
Lived through many “lame icebreakers” Sometimes we worked together (admin and faculty and staff) to create something meaningful that became a throughline the whole year! It can happen #edchat
In reply to
@ktenkely, @ShiftParadigm, @LMcGee05, @mssackstein, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @HarveyAlvy1
Not a fan of weaponizing the phrase:
"I want what's best for the children"
If we want teachers to have empathy for students then we need to have empathy for teachers. We can lead by example.
#edchat#teachers#empathy
Without clear mission & vision that EVERYONE knows & buys into (& isn’t full of jargon that isn’t true to students) it’s hard to build culture. Our mission is to apprentice students in the art of learning. Our vision is every student be treated as unique individual. #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @tomwhitby, @sgthomas1973, @HarveyAlvy1, @stephenkelley85
Staff connect as humans and then connect with Ss and Ps as humans, too. They are not a test score and they don't live to annoy you. Remember that we are all people. #Edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @ktenkely, @LMcGee05, @dubioseducator, @mssackstein, @tomwhitby, @HarveyAlvy1
I do “snowballs.” I write two prompts about the class, something good, something bad. Then they throw them, pluck them up, and read the responses. #edchat#edt5335
Think we might have deviated a bit from the topic. School culture is created by a number of things. It's more than just setting and reaching goals. It's also about the relationships built between members of the school community. Parents, admin, teachers, students. #edchat
Shared beliefs: number 1 job here is to take care of each other. Always make the charitable assumption. It’s all a gift. There’s glory in making a mistake. We are a team. All of us. Listen to everyone’s ideas. No skunking. #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @tomwhitby, @sgthomas1973, @HarveyAlvy1, @stephenkelley85
Its ongoing! We’ve have many coordinated events that include input from parents. Parents as partners help create a culture that listens to each other’s concerns “hopes and dreams” (couldn’t help myself 👏🏻) #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @ktenkely, @LMcGee05, @mssackstein, @sgthomas1973, @tomwhitby, @HarveyAlvy1
Get your questions ready: only 15 minutes until @ASCD’s monthly twitter chat! Join @DrAmyKlinger and me as we talk about #SchoolSafety and how to Prepare for and Respond to School Violence, Natural Disasters, and Other Hazards! #ASCDL2L#edChat
Interesting point. There is some consensus, not all agree: 1. Collective efficacy--we r in this for the students. 2. A mission, culture that supports high expectations 4 all S. 3. Admin that support & celebrate T. 4. Collaboration & a culture of continuous improvement. #edchat
...such language is largely absent from most education policies, district mission statement, job descriptions, teacher evaluation processes, professional development, tech plans... blah, blah #edchat@ktenkely@WingItMomStyle@dubioseducator
In reply to
@HarveyAlvy1, @ktenkely, @WingItMomStyle, @dubioseducator
And we all have to know what it looks like, too. Terms like "respect" are easily bandied about, but they have to be modeled CLEARLY at the beginning of the year, visually and in writing. #edchat
In reply to
@stephenkelley85, @ktenkely, @ShiftParadigm, @tomwhitby, @sgthomas1973, @HarveyAlvy1
Wow, what an amazing #edchat tonight on school culture. It's clear the topic is a hot one. Thank you, as always, for all the interaction on such an important topic.
No. It's all intentional. Example: when you start with students with names in mind it changes how you do things. Why send generic class list when you could make it a celebration that gets kids excited for year to come. #edchat get kids in on it!
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @tomwhitby, @sgthomas1973, @HarveyAlvy1, @stephenkelley85
Another ex: purpose of back to school night is community building for us. Ditch traditional. We're asking everyone to pack a picnic and meet us at a park. Every teacher hosts a blanket. Conversation starter cards. Teachers/parents get to know each other on a human level. #edchat
In reply to
@ShiftParadigm, @tomwhitby, @sgthomas1973, @HarveyAlvy1, @stephenkelley85
And some like me retire, but don’t leave. Subbing and contributing not only in the classrooms but hopefully to the school culture from my POV. (I sub at the same independent school I worked at for 38 years.) #edchat
If school culture is so powerful in affecting a school, Superintendents should assess the culture of each of the schools in their districts on a regular basis. #Edchat
Yes. For example, bus drivers might make a difference w that first hello, or the smile of a cafeteria worker might make a S day. S need to see principals & T respecting all staff. When opening the school yr, teacher aides, other staff should be introduced to S, by name. #edchat
The support staff is also very important to the school culture. Impressions of the culture affects visitors to a school just as they enter and interact with the main office staff. #Edchat
@ShiftParadigm Excellent question, Mark, defining a good school culture is as dicey as defining a good teacher. Everybody has a different idea and everybody would be correct, depending on point of view. Just a thought. #edchat😎
1st year teaching Grade 7/8 in September! Looking for #mentor who can guide me with lesson/unit planning for Drama & Dance. Alternatively, if there are new teachers who want to collaborate/share ideas and resources, kindly DM me. #edchat@ONedchat@OERE_EdResearch@TLPCanada
We recently heard from a teacher asking for suggestions on what they could do with their students in August and September to help get them ready for NaNoWriMo.
It got us wondering: what do *you* do in August and September to get in that noveling state of mind?
Great point. What do folks see when they enter a school? What is in the display cases? Only about sports? (and I LOVE sports). All the support staff should know the school mission and vision. We only have one chance to make a first impression. We are about people. #edchat
