I'm Allyse Dunnigan, 7-8 Choir at Schroeder MS and I am thankful for a supportive family that babysits so my husband can come videotape my concert! #gfedchat
A1, Greg LaDouceur, Century PE, family, career, getting the Grand Forks herald tomorrow to read about Thompson winning State volleyball 3 days ago!! Joke. #gfedchat
A1: Melissa Badger, Wilder, SpEd, Grateful for our daughter Adelaide, to be loved by God, for family, friends, and colleagues, opportunity to help ss succeed. #gfedchat
A2: Within the resource room, I really make a conscious effort to provide students many opportunities to make choices. I feel students make more progress when they are empowered to make choices. #gfedchat
A1: Britta Meza, Elem. Tech Partner, LA & Viking Elementary Schools, I am thankful for fun co-workers that make it fun to come to work each day! #gfedchat
A2: We can incorporate student voice and choice each day by asking students about themselves, ask them what they want to learn, how they learn best. #gfedchat
A2: Be sure to include choice in topics, what/how they are learning, ways to show what they know, giving them an authentic audience, valid feedback, understanding interests, strengths/weaknesses, etc. #gfedchat
By having genuine conversations with Ss. The more we can figure out what makes them tick as individuals, the better we will be at incorporating their interests into the classroom
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A2: Be sure to include choice in topics, what/how they are learning, ways to show what they know, giving them an authentic audience, valid feedback, understanding interests, strengths/weaknesses, etc. #gfedchat
A2: choice boards, asking their opinions, including them in the process/decision making. After a lot of behaviors I have started saying, "you are free to choose but you are not free of the consequences." Teaching Ss how to make the choices for themselves. #gfedchat
a2: ask them. allow them to contribute to class expectations, share ideas in class meetings, teach them the skills to actively listen, process and respond. #gfedchat
A2: Allow Ss to explore and investigate related topics in your class that they might have a higher interest level with, then they can use their voice to tell others about it!
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It starts with class meetings-getting to know one another, sharing challenges and celebrations. This carries on to other subject areas, projects, etc. #gfedchat
Oksana Kelly, SWEP - sorry, running late. Learning to be thankful for EVERYTHING God sends our way!
A2: We give Ss a choice of certain activities, media, product. #gfedchat
A2: allowing ss to pick their activities from their goals the created, allow choice in publishing their work, listen more, teachers talk less #gfedchat
A3: TIME for sure: how to manage different tasks vs. one task or various timelines for differing assignments. Some students also misuse given flexibility options #gfedchat
A1: Kristy Page, School Psychologist Red River, Community, Adult Transition, RMAC, Lake Agassiz, & Twining. I'm thankful for health and family #gfedchat
A3: Barriers include materials that are irrelevant and not personally meaningful to learners. Learning is often not what is on the minds of some of most vulnerable Ss. Being flexible means making sure our Ss basic needs are met before they are able to be learners. #gfedchat
A3: barriers...me getting stuck in the "same old, same old" way of doing things. taking a risk and trusting that the students can and will rise to the challenge.
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A3: The biggest barrier to flexibility in my classroom is our concerts! I'd love to spend time working on fun music, improvisation, composition, but it's hard to do that with a concert date looming ahead... #gfedchat
#gfedchat Time... that bugger! Do you have good partners you could collaborate with? Hallway space to reform? Learning spaces within your pod/area (other classrooms)?
A3: As a SPED teacher each of my students has specific goals that we are working towards and I usually only see them for 30 minutes a day so time can be a factor with flexibility #gfedchat
A3: I agree @SporbertJessica.... for some groups we have to be creative to make sure we are targeting each Ss unique goals. That is a barrier for me as well . #gfedchat
A3: The schedule can be a barrier sometimes as well as "seat time" requirements. Sometimes other demands: Student behavior, building admin expectations and curriculum mandates are hurdles as well. #gfedchat
This was the first thing I thought of. Trying to balance schedules and caseloads does not always lead to the best fit groupings and it makes it more challenging to work on those specific Ss goals. #gfedchat
#gfedchat Hmm... tricky one. Do you have good support from other colleagues to collaborate with? Maybe finagling some extra time/space to be creative with some of the more "fun" things?
A3: As SWEP teachers, I believe we have more "freedom" than classroom teachers with the choice of the units and activities to teach. Some limitations are the schools/classroom schedules and events that interrupt our lessons sometimes. #gfedchat
A3: The amount of curriculum Ts are expected to cover in the yr, not having adequate time to collaborate freely w/colleagues in your building rather than being directed what to collaborate on, time to plan/prep lessons that focus on S interested connected to content. #gfedchat
A3 Time-to meet all needs of all students. There are many interruptions to a Ss day of learning. School calendar also creates many stops & starts in learning. #gfedchat
A3: ss requiring assistance with regulating their behaviors that causes other ss to miss their service minutes along with reflection meetings about ss difficulties #gfedchat
A3: Time to wrap my head around how to implement in my classroom while making sure kids are learning standards and time to create this type of environment #gfedchat
#gfedchat Excellent! Inspire your colleagues! Brainstorm with them and their tougher schedules. Artists see things differently and are invaluable to have at the table.
A4: Be learners themselves - people who can collaborate and help generate ideas and meaningful feedback based on what they've seen, read, etc. #gfedchat
It is hard to ensure total freedom and flexibility, however by being open to change and new ideas it can open the doors to further flexibility and freedom. #gfedchat
A4: Measurable effort to ensure our Ss needs are being met prior to learning. Breakfast is available for an extended time in the am. Ss have a mentor teacher/buddy classroom. Flexibility to complete learning when the student is ready, not forcing them to be ready. #gfedchat
A4: Encourage staff to try new things. Be daring! But also be accountable and follow up with teachers. Kind of like being more instructional coaches maybe? #gfedchat
A4: I feel like over the years, our class sizes have steadily been creeping up. If leaders could somehow find a way to lower class size, I believe SOOO many more things are possible, including freedom and flexibility #gfedchat
A3: Time! I see Ss in 30 min blocks. It would be nice to allow for more scheduling flexibility. Heavy caseloads and high need/ high behavior Ss also make it more challenging to be flexible with Ss learning opportunities. #spreadthin#gfedchat
A4: The school calendar would be a great place to start, there are many places for improvement. Allow time for staff to collaborate/observe each other to collect ideas to improve their own teaching. #gfedchat
A4: we now hv a very inspiring leader n i hv a principal tht lets us take risks, push limits, b creative n really hv fun learning w our ss at their levels n how they learn #gfedchat
A4. limit staff meetings, trust teachers to cover the required standards, even if they do it in a non-traditional way, promote varied learning spaces. #gfedchat
A4: By allowing innovative hacks in the classroom, encouraging a supportive and collaborative environment that embraces learning from failure as much as success. #gfedchat
A4: It would be nice to have a room for my students at every school, so we don't have to look for a corner in the hallway, or change rooms in the middle of the day... #gfedchat
A4: Providing support and encouragement. Creating an environment that builds a strong teaching community that everyone will feel more inclined to invest their time and effort into. Help to recruit and retain a strong and collaborative staff. #gfedchat
A5: I feel we can be more intentional in meeting our students where they are at and not where we want them to be. I feel we see behaviors when students are pushed past the point of their present level of knowledge and ability. #gfedchat
By allowing for continual updates within the school setting and curriculum to ensure ss are receiving not only the most up to date information, but ways of learning as well. #gfedchat
A5: Giving students life experiences and learning that will be relevant to them and their goals. Move beyond memorization to project based learning, partnerships that are beyond the classroom and authentic audiences for student work. #gfedchat
A5: By having more hands on materials, lessons and projects for students as well as having more lessons be applied to real life situations for students #gfedchat
A5: Allow Ss to create, express themselves, less worry/focus on "tests" & standards and more focus on important lifelong skills, critical thinking, problem solving, making things relevant, partner w/ community, careers, etc. #gfedchat
A5: Continued research in new T&L methods. Our scholarly learning does not stop at college graduation. Continue to read up on current research, studies, and trends in T&L and share what you would like to try. Try new things and become a T&L trend setter. #gfedchat
I'd like to take a moment to thank Maggie @SchoolInnovate for hosting our chat tonight! Here a little information about the work she is supporting in Bismarck: https://t.co/cpd7xYu3zu#gfedchat
We know computer (AI) can out memorize humans in record speed. We need to create thinkers that can fix problems and broken memorization machines! #gfedchat
A5: I would like to see more brainstorming sessions where people can have open and honest conversations. For me, it helps having people to bounce ideas off of and get everyone's brain rolling. #gfedchat
A5: Continue to evolve and adapt with the times and stay focused on the future, but those are only words, I don't know how to actually implement it. #gfedchat
A6: I feel stifled by the sheer number of standards that need to be addressed every year - it goes back to feeling like there's never enough TIME #gfedchat
A6: I feel fully supported by my PE curriculum. The most difficult think about my curriculum is the funding to give my students the best opportunities with new equipment. #gfedchat
A6: My curriculum for computer applications has never been the same all 7 years I have taught it! I'm always looking for new things but it's hard to fit everything in! #gfedchat
A6. I remember liking parts of the curriculums but I always felt unsure of how much I was "allowed" to be creative and personalize the lesson. #gfedchat
I feel supported by it as we have flexibility to teach how we want and the curriculum our ss need to be independent in the real world (applied math) #gfedchat
a6: as an elementary counselor, the SEL curriculum I have is a tool I frequently use to support what I do. I wish classroom teachers could spend time every week teaching more SEL skills.
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A5: AMEN! I'm afraid Elementary Ss today will only remember testing from school...we want them to remember the LOVE of learning to become lifelong learners and problem solvers. #gfedchat
A6: Equally stifled/supported by the availability of resources for students with IEP’s. Ss are often not at the same benchmark levels as their peers yet they are expected to follow along with the curriculum because assessments are given, regardless of ability level. #gfedchat
A6: Supported by my curriculum!
Gives me a lot of variety. Year worth of curr. to fit into a semester. Gives me a choice of what I want to use.
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A6: i feel stifled as in my program we dnt hv standards or curriculum we make up our own n work individual iep goals n base curriculum on tht. It would b nice to hv standards n report cards to check progress like reg tchers #gfedchat
A6: Equally stifled/supported by the availability of resources for students with IEP’s. Ss are often not at the same benchmark levels as their peers yet they are expected to follow along with the curriculum because assessments are given, regardless of ability level. #gfedchat
A6: Currently, I feel like it's my role to support the teacher in "hacking' the curriculum to lift it to a relevant, engaging, differentiated, and immersive learning experience by integrating tools and technology. I hope to support and overcome the barriers. #gfedchat
A6: There are moments when we notice our Ss losing the spark toward the material, and then fortunately, we are able to change or modify the unit, so mostly supported! #gfedchat
A6: It's my curriculum so I feel comfortable and what I don't feel comfortable with--I will learn what works and change it next year. I learn from my mistakes and student achievements. #gfedchat
A6: For SPED we do not necessarily have a specific curriculum we are required to teach, however I feel we have a variety of curriculums that we can utilize in our small groups such as Jan Richardson, Benchmark Advance, LLI, Reading A-Z #gfedchat
A6: As a school psychologist, I feel stifled by the amount of mental health resources we are given. Wish we would get more interventions and curriculum programs in this areas to support our specialists and teachers to help support our students #gfedchat
A6: In special ed we are not provided much, if any curriculum to use that is different than what is used in the Gen ed room. I feel like we have to find things to use on our own more than we are provided. #gfedchat
A6: As an APE teacher, I feel supported/stifled in some of my curriculums that I follow, but I am able to be creative in my teaching, but resources can be an issue when working with students on IEP's. #gfedchat
A6: As an SLP, I don't feel that we have a specific curriculum. I think this is helpful in that we can try new things, but it would also be nice to have more research based curriculum provided to us so we were all on the same page #gfedchat
I used to think that education was a one-size-fits all, upon entering college and the profession, I later realized that was far from right. No two kids learn or understand things the same way. #gfedchat
A7: I still want every student to enjoy music and singing, but now I have a lot more resources and techniques to make that happen. I also try to teach music as a lifelong hobby. #gfedchat
A7: I have grown tremendously in my approach to the classroom since I first began teaching. I think what has had a HUGE impact on me is the PD literature I read. I tey to take in as much as I can. #gfedchat
A7: Positive relationships are critical to the success of our learners. Ts who believe in their Ss and develop personal connections provide motivation for learning. Ensuring S needs are met ensures they will be ready to learn when their circumstances change. #gfedchat
A6, I feel supported by our PE curriculum. Funding for equipment for the students and funding to attend PE related workshops would help immensely #gfedchat
A6: There are definitely parts of the curriculum that are helpful & engaging for Ss, but there's SO much extra (old & new) curriculum that it often becomes stifling. How do we find the essentials & allow room for innovative ideas and ways of helping Ss connect? #gfedchat
A7: After getting my principal credential, I try to look at things from both a teacher and as an admin. BUT the ultimate goal is what is best for students and how can we help them. #gfedchat
A7: The more I recognize the needs of learner of all ages, the more I recognize that "one size fits all" learning experiences don't work. Learning must be PERSONALized and meaningful for the learner. Creative, innovative, authentic, REAL. #gfedchat
A7: I am still learning, but it is important to develop good relationships with parents and students and knowing that all students learn differently. #gfedchat
A7 Making sure that I am always learning new ways to teach my students and keep them engaged. There are always new and better ways to support our students #gfedchat
A7: My biggest shift in understanding has been around the teaching that occurs beyond just my specific content area. Students need SO many things: social skills, coping skills, remediation, basic needs, etc. #gfedchat
A8: Empowered students are curious to learn. Provide opportunities for learning that excite them and create a desire to learn more or what’s next. #gfedchat
A7: Relationships & Growth Mindset are both things that ring true with becoming better. Remembering the "why", learning from mistakes, and taking risks FOR kids #gfedchat
A7: Every experience I've had w/Ss have helped me grow & realize all Ss are not the same & there is always a Ss who is an exception to the next program provided. We need to individualize and diversify. If there was one program for all, we wouldn't still be looking. #gfedchat
A8: I try to push kids in all our units with a "What else can you do?" mentality. "How can you make this better?" rather then looks good and move on. I try to give lots of ideas and feedback when needed. #gfedchat
A8: I ask students to find music they'd like to perform within certain guidelines: must be school appropriate, sound good with a group performing it rather than a soloist, etc. #gfedchat
A7: In the last few years we've had fabulous speakers at GF PD days, who confirmed that innovations, technology, project-based learning, and early childhood trauma are all part of today's learning process at our schools! #gfedchat
A7: I have learned that Ss behavior can be broken down and analized in more ways than I ever thought and can be more complicated to teach/improve than academic issues. College didn't prepare me for the level of behavior and social skills teaching I would be doing. #gfedchat
A7 I think I am learning every day as much as my students do, understanding how each student needs different approach and also the importance of relationships #gfedchat
A8: By asking questions, listening and challenging them to be the keeper of the solutions, inquiry, problem, "stretch", growth, and answers - not me! I usually answer questions with a question. Keep the Wonder alive in the learning! #gfedchat
A7: Having the opportunity 2 work @ many schools has opened my eyes 2 many different ways of doing things. Ss today don't learn the same way Ss did when I was in school. I try 2 focus on which direction the Ss want 2 take a lesson rather than following a script. #gfedchat
A8: In PE, if I am excited about an activity or game, the students will generate interest. Show them that as an adult teacher im going to have fun watching them play the game, they will most likely have fun playing the game! #gfedchat
Laura Manstrom, FACS at Valley. I’m late to to party because I was making pie for Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my friends, family, and my favorite dessert- pie #gfedchat
#gfedchat Woo hoo! Less us, more them! A wonderful book by .@garystager is called "Invent to Learn" where he challenges teachers to cut their talk time in half, then again, then again, etc!
A6: I wholeheartedly agree. I also feel guilty if I don't use it with fidelity because of the investment & research with it. But, ultimately we know what is best/works for our Ss. #gfedchat
A8: I try to come up with interesting or new techniques for them to try--Pinterest has helped. Ss love to try something new and experiment with the materials. It also helps Ss if they are struggling and may not be could w a certain med.-they can try something diff #gfedchat
Right now, we are dealing a lot with High Reliability Schools and behaviors. We also changed our class offerings and added some different classes. Would be nice to see how the changes are impacting the kids' learning. #gfedchat
#gfedchat a2: Giving students options is something I do often in class. How they want to accomplish the assignment, what food we cook, etc. It makes them happy!
I build relationships with my students, and I show them how what we are reading/writing in class applies to them and the world around them. I push them to be better, because they challenge me to be better. We grow because of each other. #gfedchat
