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: I didn't have a connection with any staff & I honestly can't remember the vast majority of their names. I wish this hadn't been the case & I try to do better with my students. #mschat
A1: Big fan of Ms. Laverty. She had me and then my two little siblings. I had the privilege to teach in the same school as her when I first got out of college. Were it not for her, I don't know if I would have ever loved reading again after a bad 5th grade experience. #mschat
A1) Mr. H, 6th grade math. I was one of 4 girls in an advanced class of 30. He always took time to make sure we were heard. He is also the reason I ran track. Oh, and did I mention I teach middle school math...hmm! #mschat
A1: I don’t remember having much of a connection with any individual staff member, but growing up in small town Michigan, the teacher knew you and you knew them. #mschat
Q2: This is awesome that so many of you had a teacher who bonded with you in middle school! Does your current school do something to ensure that every student has an adult advocate? #mschat
A1: I never had a very close relationship with a teacher in middle school. I was always jealous of my older brother, who did, and I was just the *little sister*..my school experience is a BIG part of what I want to provide for my students. #mschat
Hi all! I'm a little late to the game but my name is Jordyn and I'm a PST studying Hist & SS Sec Ed at Grove City College in PA. It's my 1st time tuning in to #mschat It's looking like my student teaching placement will be in a 7th grade classroom so I'm excited 2 learn! #mschat
A1: Thank goodness I did. I still remember my home room teacher bought me a pair of jean shorts to thank me for being a home room rep. She was amazing. #mschat
A2: We schedule every kid in an advisory so they have a home-base teacher. I think we can do more to be more intentional about that opportunity to connect & make sure we’re not missing anyone, but it’s a good start. #mschat
A2: I think our school culture and staff dynamic works in a way that most of our students have advocates. I know last year I was a big fan of a kid that had previously been labeled as "that" kid. All schools can def. improve in this area though. #mschat
That is a great start. It may be cool to ask advisors to reflect on their relationship with each student - how well do they really know them? What do they like to do outside of school? What is magical about them?? #mschat
As a team we make recommendations for who our Ss should be with for the following year for homeroom/advisory. We do this at the end of the year once we really really know the kids, and we know our colleagues, so we try to pair their styles with Ss who need them! #mschat
A2: We do a "connectedness survey". Every student fills out a survey about how connected they feel to staff & other students. We take students who don't self-identify a connection to staff & reach out to them through conversation, etc. It is informal but effective. #mschat
I agree. Might be good to do in our RTI teams. We’re focusing on behavior & figuring out the WHY instead of just assigning consequences. Great opportunity to evaluate our relationships. #mschat
I love the idea of students self-reporting. That would help catch Times an adult THINKS they have a connection but the student isn’t feeling the same way. #mschat
A2: Our school does not currently. I'm so inspired by the process of silent mentoring- it would be so easy to implement! And every campus has those kids. #mschat
A3) I like to talk to them. I like to give them group work/review that I am fairly confident they will be successful at without too much of my guidance. I then go around the room and spend time in conversation. #mschat
A3: in my ed classes here at school, our profs have encouraged us to learn names of our Ss and use them. Also, a "Tell Me About Yourself" survey is another way #mschat
A3 When I was in the classroom I did personal inventory sheets with each of my students and I would also visit with them often. As a principal it is more about engaging them in conversation when I have a chance #mschat
A3: I have them fill out a notecard with quick facts about themselves, have conversations with them, and have them do activities in something I call #AppsDay that I spoke about on @Mr_Lisek's podcast and wrote about here: https://t.co/qO0fzNMVPn#mschat
A3: I taught ELA. My first assignment of the year was always for them to create a product arguing why they should be my favorite student. I wrote back to all of them and took notes to remind me why they are all lovable and amazing. Everyone is somebody’s baby. #mschat
A3: I do a survey asking students all sorts of things--music, sports, what helps them in school, etc. I end with asking them to tell me something I should know about them. Their responses are so eye-opening! #mschat
A3: I have a weird first day questionnaire I give inspired by one I saw @loveteachblog use, and we play a special edition of Hungry Hippos to talk about the summer, how the year’s starting, routines, etc. Great way to sit & discuss together. https://t.co/LSRSCwRWDR#mschat
My edtech prof @SFecich had our class use @Flipgrid to introduce ourselves to her and our fellow classmates. We talked about our interests and what we'd done over the summer #mschat
A2: In our learning community we established a house system so each student has an adult they can go to. On our house days we do team building and build empathy through community service. #mschat
A3) Oh yeah, (beginning of the year was so long ago) I also have them do a "Me by the Numbers" where they share information about themselves using numbers. I have 2 cats, I was born 960 miles from where I live now. #mschat
A3: We do a lot of icebreaker activities to build classroom community but my favorite thing is to make use of passing period and have short individual conversations with all my students. They love/need to chat! It's amazing how much you can learn about your students. #mschat
A4: I stand at the door of my room between class periods and greet kids as they come in. It's a great time to comment on a book they're reading or ask another quick question. All of these little moments add up. #mschat
What's it like to be a lawyer for a large corporation? 6th-12th grade students can learn all about this career from a member of @comcast's legal team! Reserve your spot for this live, virtual session on 2/12: https://t.co/zotEg8NTVo#legalcareers#jobs#mschat#hschat
A4) Continually checking in with kids. After breaks, having them right down anything they want you to know about their break, Good, Bad, Ugly, Hilarious. You learn a lot from kids, when you ask! #mschat
A4: I look back through the notecards throughout the year to find points of conversation I can start with a student to get to know them better. Also, starting new conversations. I have 2 Ss who regularly give me meat smoking tips for my new smoker. Love it! #mschat
A4: We take time during class to stop and play a quick game or do a team building activity. We build the connections with each other and I make it a point to participate in whatever we do. I want Ss to feel equal during anything we do. #mschat
A4: I utilize small group instruction so I can better understand who they are as a learner. Lunch rewards let them eat w/ me. Projects like our current @Flipgrid channel project let them share their passions. But the most important: just be present & listen. #mschat
A3: by having a simple conversation with nothing to do with academics. My goal is to be able to talk to every kid I come into contact with about something they are personally interested in. Let’s them know you value them more than a grade #mschat
A4: I think checking in with Ss is one way to grow connections. Also, playing an active role in the school community (go to sports games, concerts, etc.) #mschat
Here is @KatieNovakUDL 's article one more time, if you didn't catch it before! I LOVE the idea about having staff identify students that they know well and then looking for any kids who don't have a staff member. https://t.co/bUC3hYbJl0#mschat
A5: With so many days off due to inclement weather, we will use a few days next week to review expectations and build connections with one another. #mschat
A4: I spiral in activities that work on communication, growth mindset, and team building- today my students had an interview sheet with 12 Qs- they had to get one response from each student. We play Bananagrams and magnetic poetry- it's a time to *hang out* AND learn too. #mschat
A5: I’m interviewing them for the Remaking Middle School summit and am excited to come back & share with them how their opinions mattered. I also plan to examine my roster, inspired by @KatieNovakUDL, to see who I may be missing. #mschat
A5: I will be intentional with not just saying hello to kids but also asking them about their day. Most want to share, they are just waiting to be asked! #mschat
Thanks to @cmt215il, @KatieNovakUDL, and @blocht574 for this really important #mschat topic! I’m inspired & challenged to be more intentional with my student relationships. I know this is a strength of mine, but if I’m somehow missing even one kid, I’ve got to step up & notice!
A5: Tmrw we are reading an article about human rights violations in the cocoa trade. Listening to their reactions and responses on controversial topics helps to build a meaningful learning community. It's always my most reluctant kids that shine with the heavy material! #mschat
