#ctedu Archive
#ctedu is a great way for Connecticut educators to share teaching strategies, educational resources, and more.
Tuesday February 23, 2016
8:00 PM EST
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Welcome to ! Please introduce yourself and share from where you’re joining us!
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Heyyyyyyyyy I'm Rob from Norwalk. social studies/Lead Tech Coach.
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Hi Melissa! It's Kathy from East Granby, Ct grade 3 Excited to be here!
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Hi Kathy!! I realized this morning I owe you an email!! I will write back tmrw! Good to have you here!
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We will use a Q1, Q2… format for Questions during . Please use the A1, A2… format for answers
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Hi ! Looking forward (& nervous) to host tonight's chat! I'm Melissa from Stamford, 3rd grade teacher.
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Hi everyone! I'm Alexa, an Elementary Tech Leader in Danbury and Google for Education Certified Trainer. So happy to see my friends!
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Hello everyone, Sean Hutchinson 4th grade teacher from Stamford, CT
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Hi Alexa!! Good to see you too! I feel like it's been a while!
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Hi! Ruth from Canton, English teacher
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Hi Sean! You are amazing!
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Make sure to add to all of your tweets tonight for this chat. Your voice matters!
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Good evening! Maura from New Fairfield - 6th grade ELA/SPED
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Hi Maura!! Happy Tuesday!! Welcome
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How are you Ruth? Did you guys get a lot of snow today?
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What's up, Nutmeggers Joel from Danbury. 6th grade ELA
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Woah!! Celebrity appearance!! Hi Joel!!! How are you!?
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Question 1 coming up in 1 minute...
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Q1: How do you incorporate your creativity into teaching?
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Hey everyone Joel is here!!!
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A1 Some of my favorite moments in the classroom happen during that time
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Really nice! Game was cancelled due to all of this snow.
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Great to see everyone this evening
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Keri, Lead Teacher from Newtown. Good evening, everyone!
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GREAT idea! I really need to try to get this going in my room this spring
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A1: I am a huge PBL fan, so the creativity isn't so much mine, but from the kids. How can you solve this? What is another way?
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Hi Keri! Welcome to ! How are you?
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Hi, Melissa! I am here for your chat. If was moderating I would still be reading my book. 😜
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You will never regret it. My Ss love it as much as I do
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A1: My creativity shines during my small reading classes...using Wilson and Language programs. My forte!
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I like PBL, but I find it hard to incorporate into the classroom sometimes based on the content we are teaching
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I feel 1000% totally supported - you guys rock
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A1 I also LOVE Global Read aloud and
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I am! Luckily we just got some rain and fingers crossed we'll be in the building tomorrow for
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Allowing students ownership leads to creativity. Choice in questions, readings, products.
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A1: I incorporate my creativity by exploring my interest and sharing them with my students. My passions are math, tech and science.
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What about me? Am I chopped liver?
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Hi Everyone. Joining late. Tim, elementary assistant principal.
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A1 Lots of choices for topics in writing, and some narrative writing and/or poetry whenever I can
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A1: Watching Ss "get it" when you are teaching them about phonemes and syllables!
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No - you are the sweet sauce on the side
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I think the choice is key!
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Hi Tim! Better late than never! Thanks for coming tonight
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That is always my favorite!
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A1 I get creative in the way I find ways to engage students. Once I know them, their interests, their styles, I can tailor lessons.
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A1: I get creative in how I present information to students - some times I act it out and get crazy to make sure they get the topic
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Welcome Tim and Keri - How are you?
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Getting to know their interests is KEY! That's the best way to hook them
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I think it is key not to let the CCSS trip you up. They are just standards. YOU run the classroom! Common Core ≠ Bore
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SO true...but so easy to forget! https://t.co/azqJAalmjR
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I think it is key not to let the CCSS trip you up. They are just standards. YOU run the classroom! Common Core ≠ Bore
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A1 Also do a small research project where sts use tech creatively to teach class and plan activity
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Teaching questioning strategies allows for creativity. Ss no longer reliant on teacher to attack a topic. New things discovered
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This is SUPER important Alexa! I think that it's easy to get tripped up in all the language of the Common Core
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agreed. Just standards. Get to know your kids and then hit the standards that way.
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That's the QBL strategy - right?!
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Totally! I made it a challenge for myself. How can I make these standards AWESOME?
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Q2: What activities do you use to encourage student creativity?
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A1: I love to let the Ss make up their own games to learn and own the "mundane" they need to be able to be better readers.
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Kelsey- teaching Kinder in Tampa! Joining late!
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I think I'm going to make that my quote for the rest of my teaching career - I lLOVE it!
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The initial program which they are trying to involve teachers in alternative educational models.
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The standards in ELA actually allow the teacher the flexibility to attack them in a variety of ways
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can you explain QBL more and share some resources?
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It takes creativity to help students ask the right questions and seek the answers themselves!
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Unfortunately I don't think enough people see that because they have been told to do it in XYZ way
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A2: Anything that allows Ss to show off what they're good at...or find something new that interests them. Music, coding, poem, etc
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Isn't it fabulous! I just love it!
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Close, Melissa. . Question formulation technique.
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Already signed up. Can't wait!
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A2 We are starting a . Fingers crossed
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Oh, totally!! Thats the biggest misconception. You can push lock-step teaching out of a textbook all you want.That isn't CCSS
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A2: Allowing student choice in how they are presenting topics, allowing students to create -- collecting stuff for
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A2: I do inquiry challenges in my classroom!
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We have spent a lot of time powering the standards. No way to get through 50+ standards w/fidelity
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we are think of starting one in our building. What advice can you share?
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A2 I also started letting students
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I totally agree! I don't know however if a lot of districts have conveyed that message
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I use - this gets my Ss thinking creatively and using critical thinking skills to solve problems.
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Ooo...that sounds like fun!
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I have no advice as I just started ! YIKES!
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I'm excited to see in action -- not sure what it is really
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Agreed. We talk a lot about different types of Qs & testing Qs. I stay away from "right." Scares Ss away from it.
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Some are really great at it!
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This is awesome. They must've had SO much fun!
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Sounds fun! What do those look like?
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No, maybe I should. I really haven't blogged.
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Need to check this out myself.
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A2: we are doing genius hour in some grades and students are using iMovie and other programs on iPads to create.
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People look at me like I have 2 heads when I say I love the CCSS; they help me stay organized while I rock other areas like ISTE NETs
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I think students really flourish when they have the chance to create in any way vs one way
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I heard about that this year. That looks amazing and super creative!
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Q3: What barriers are stagnating your creative juices?
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I don't mind CCSS. It is the testing that is rough
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WOW!! This is SO cool! Does EVERYTHING have to be out of cardboard?
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A2 Would love to start a maker space. Have been collecting some materials.
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A3 Barriers - financial $$$
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Oh, the testing is awful. But testing is definitely not the CCSS. Terrible side effect
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I agree! For ELA especially I think they make sense
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I agree -- the testing piece seems unfair
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I cleaned out my house! My hubby is happy!
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A3: Testing. Testing. Testing?
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"If you build it, they will come" https://t.co/fu07rOuYcC
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A2 Would love to start a maker space. Have been collecting some materials.
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I like giving Ss different means to attack a topic. Talked implicit vs. explicit details today using paintings and pictures
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Jumping in late! Was planning this summers disney vacation 😎
Paul from Stamford! 4th grade ELA/SS
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A3: Sometimes I think it can be a school's culture .
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That sounds like a really cool lesson! I think I want to spend a day in your class
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A3 It's tough to set aside time to be creative when other issues are priorities. The enemy of time, same old, same old.
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A3: I think daily drama drains the blood out of us all. Not talking about Ss!
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Hi Paul! Jealous, but glad you made it!
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Oooh! Where are you staying? is a Disneyphile too
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Agreed, agreed, agreed. Teaching to the SBAC is back on the table. Unreal.
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Ooo...yes...that's a big one I didn't even think about
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Going to try maker space with a specific age group?
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Oh my gosh I LOVE this. Now I need to start collecting - I can't wait to have them try this! Time limit?
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I know I don't count so much, since I don't have a classroom & don't have students to teacher, but gosh, it is in the air with my Ts
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Love the idea of makerspaces, what would they look like in ELA only setting?
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A3: Time and the testing constraints...I've gotten over the 'curriculum' piece
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A3. Time and missing classes for testing.
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no, Not everything. we used any and all materials we could think of!
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Q4: What advice do you have for teachers who feel like there is no place for student or teacher creativity?
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That is fantastic!! Is that a kids fingers poking through?
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Make a character from your book using these materials?
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A4 I think there is always room. Just need to prioritize and not waste time.
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Then the districts that buy them and say you HAVE to do this
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A4: Seriously get over yourself and spend some more time on Twitter! Sorry, but I need to give some tough love here. MAKE THE TIME
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I think we as Ts need to share our creativity more. Grow a movement where people share their great lessons face to face.
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A4: Tell that teaching is not prescribed journey and to always challenge the status-quo and push limits for what your kids need.
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ahh, building scenes, sets....I like this
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A4 Teachers have to make the time for creativity. Without it, there is little chance for engagement.
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not sure still thinking. I have a space and some stuff. Just need to make it happen.
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If you feel like there is no place for student and teacher creativity in the classroom, then you are in the wrong business.
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That's true. Narrow definitions of "rigor" can stifle.
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A4: Follow your heart. Ss need a leader who will lead them to learn in ways that make a real difference in their lives!
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I was a petulant child who refused to teach from those textbooks. Then got national attention for my units :)
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Edcamp is such a great format for this.
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A4: take the time and just go with it. They will learn so much more. Trust your instincts.
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Thanks so much for sharing this Kelsey! I'm STOKED and inspired!
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harsh, but true. We always have to do right by kids.
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Would love to see it in action when you get it going.
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I think this is most important - trust yourself as a teacher - you know your kids better than any person in an office
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A4: Fostering creativity is our job. Creativity moves us forward.
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Was trying to figure how to say that! Perfect!
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A4. Try and infuse pockets of creativity in every lesson.
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Curiosity and creativity. The more we instill/foster these C's in our Ss the better off our future will be.
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A4:Please don't rob a kids soul by constantly teaching to the test. We can hit standards in creative ways. Just say no to reformers.
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YES!! Without curiosity and creativity we as a society will be doomed https://t.co/vwgdMF1WHs
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Curiosity and creativity. The more we instill/foster these C's in our Ss the better off our future will be.
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If you THINK there is no time for creativity, your students will definitely MAKE zero time for it. You set the tone.
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Yep...this right here! https://t.co/a8Tw9ity8j
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Curiosity and creativity. The more we instill/foster these C's in our Ss the better off our future will be.
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How many of us are trying to create makerspaces? Maybe we should all meet at to chat about this.
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A4: I would tell them to try it ONE time. After they see the S engagement and learning, they can't say no!
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Wish I was going. :( Other commitment that day.
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Pockets could be choice, questions, sharing, demonstration, explanation...
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Yes! The students should drive the instruction
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How about the in Simsbury? Right next door to me.
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I can't wait to see some of these faces at . Who is joining us?
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That might be nice if you came.
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Wow- rocked tonight. Great job!!
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Thanks for joining this week’s ! Don’t forget to follow your new connections & sign up for ! https://t.co/BEzS0E74p4
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maybe makerspaces could be a future topic for us
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Nice job tonight, Melissa. You were nervous for nothing. Great chatting, everyone.
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Thanks for coming Maura! See you next week!
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Thanks Joel! I feel totally honored you stopped reading to participate! :)
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Have a great week, everyone! Drive safely tomorrow morning.
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You bet! Great rest of the week!
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Good night everyone. Thank you!
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Thanks for coming Tim!! Have a great evening!
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This was a blast! Melissa you did a great job! Time sure flies when you are having fun. See you all next week
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Hey all- late to the chat tonight, but I enjoyed all of the insights! Lurking on behalf of SMS in New Milford
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Excited for the Tri-State Summit on Friday. Who else is attending?
