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.
A1: quite simply the plethora of things we teach and that kids learn, whether intentionally or not, that are not in the curriculum. From how to respectfully message an adult to how to resolve friendship conflicts ... and more #mschat
A1: Teaching Ss those ‘soft’ but crucial skills necessary to thrive in society. Indirectly promoting resiliency, confidence, & kindness in my Ss. #mschat
A2: The knowledge that all of my Ss have capability to make a difference in the world in which they live. Fostering that desire to do good, which is so prevalent in young adolescents. #mschat
A2: for me personally, I intentionally teach the kids about communicating beyond their friends and how to show yourself the way you want to be seen. Organization and work ethic are huge too. Our school has really focused on social emotional this year, so that has added #mschat
A3: I don’t know that it really is hidden, it just isn’t written down 🤔 I’ve been thanked by parents before, so they see it. I guess that it isn’t in my job description though 😂 #mschat
social emotional and organizational skills are big this year. Also getting them to try different activities (drama, choir, Best Buddies, etc.) in order to help them figure out what they really enjoy and be more balanced #mschat
I think the impact of a hidden curriculum ("social skills") is amplified when we make it more clear. When we can help students connect school activity to life, it has a longer lasting impact. #mschat
A3: YES! Keep doing it! Keeping it “hidden” to me implies that it is embedded in the primary curriculum & that it is organic, not scripted. Scripted curriculum has benefits but I think many of the hidden curr tools are best when they are tied in w/what you are doing. #mschat
A3.2: I think it is something that we each do as individuals, and we have our own strengths to share with the students. By it being ‘hidden’, it allows us to put our unique stamp on it. It allows us to help students with things that we are best able to help them with. #mschat
A3 I think the impact of a hidden curriculum ("social skills") is amplified when we make it more clear. When we can help students connect school activity to life, it has a longer lasting impact. #mschat
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A4: We have a Civil Behaviors section of our report card. We also set aside time twice a month for SEL lessons. On my team we also chose to do service learning projects. #mschat
Q5 Should the hidden curriculum be more visible in schools? Assessed, graded with feedback? How does its value compare to the the visible (standard) curriculum when it comes to job skills? #mschat
That sounds like incredible work! A lot of what I do centers around current issues & what my Ss are passionate about. Everything from class debates & discussions to our large research unit is based on these topics.:) #mschat
No failure just feedback assessed by teachers, can loose some privileges if not showing quality skills mark with O for outstanding S for satisfactory n for needs improvement and U for unacceptable #mschat
I agree! I would love to take it a step further & incorporate some hand-on service learning, but I don’t know what that would look like just yet..:) #mschat
A5: I feel the hidden curriculum is more important than the visible we need to stop hiding the fact that behaviors are more important that facts we can google! #mschat
A5: Making it more visible could help encourage teachers to include it on a consistent basis. However I think assigning a grade is difficult, especially since we are talking about YA’s who are likely developing these skills & haven’t mastered them yet. #mschat
A5: I don’t think so. These are skills we want to foster in our Ss for life - putting a letter grade next to something like, “Is a good person” seems disingenuous & not at all the point. #mschat
Yes but isn't that the same with math skills? Science? ELA? etc???? #mschat We should provide feedback to help guide them to the proper place with these skills! #Mschat
Recorded for behaviors found in each class, so each students gets an academic grade and then a citizenship grade for each class. Citizenship is measured as O= outstanding, S= satisfactory, N=needs improvement and U= unacceptable #mschat
