#DITCHbook was created by Ditch That Textbook author Matt Miller. The chat focuses on innovative teaching ideas and disrupting standard textbook education.
✨Hi, #DitchBook Crew!
I'm Kimberly from Nebraska.I teach 7th grade ELA. I'm so excited to moderate #DitchBook tonight!✨
✨Make sure to follow each other, so we can stay connected on this journey to cultivate creative classrooms!✨
Hey #DitchBook friends! Matt here, joining you from Lexington, VA ... battling some hotel wifi issues but making it happen!
Can't WAIT to see what @KimSnodgrass has up her sleeve for tonight!
Hey everyone, Kyle in Las Vegas, ditching Olympic hockey and curling for a bit to join in on #ditchbook And luckily, the @goldenknights are off tonight so I can devote attention!
✨Getting students to be confident in THEIR creativity is essential in cultivating a creative classroom.
Q1: How do you instill creative confidence in your students?✨
#DitchBook
✨A1: PRACTICE CREATIVITY! Just like like anything, students will become more confident in their creative abilities the more opportunities they have to practice them!✨
#DitchBook
A1: This is one of my favorite things to do! I usually demonstrate that I have limited creativity (and sub-par art skills), so I challenge them to best me with their skills. They love the competition and have developed some amazing projects! #ditchbook
✨"Creative genius is something people tend to romanticize, but the reality is not very romantic at all. Like any skill it takes practice and effort."✨ ~Dave Burgess
#TLAP#DitchBook
✨Getting students to be confident in THEIR creativity is essential in cultivating a creative classroom.
Q1: How do you instill creative confidence in your students?✨
#DitchBook
Q1: Helping students develop this takes time, but I think continually allowing them to be creative, encouraging them to try new things, and giving them opportunities to come up with ideas and even activities for the whole class helps. #ditchbook
A1: I ask them to try. And even if it isn’t their best work, but it’s on-task and their best then I applaud their effort! Plus, if it’s drawing I laugh at myself and tell them they’ll always be better than me! #truth#icantdraw#ditchbook
✨Getting students to be confident in THEIR creativity is essential in cultivating a creative classroom.
Q1: How do you instill creative confidence in your students?✨
#DitchBook
A1: Makerspace (w/ design thinking) is a great start! Teaching students it is ok to fail, no ideas are bad, and a mistake can turn into something amazing! #ditchbook
A1: Don't expect your perfection. Let them see that everyone is creative is their own way. Creative isn't always "cute" or "neat", it's sometimes as simple as a great idea. #ditchbook
✨Getting students to be confident in THEIR creativity is essential in cultivating a creative classroom.
Q1: How do you instill creative confidence in your students?✨
#DitchBook
A1: Well, give them choice, support their creativity, including those choices I may not have made. Sometimes I give them a box of requirements if they need guidance. #ditchbook
A1: Scaffold creativity. Early on show/direct them to specific ways to demonstrate learning with end goal of the semester/year to have ultimate voice/choice. #ditchbook
Students have to feel safe and validated with their work. Once this need is met, students feel comfortable and confident enough to be more bold/creative with their work. #DitchBook
A1: I always like to show examples from past classes or even my own examples, it gets ideas flowing and shows Ss not to be afraid to think outside the box #ditchbook
✨Getting students to be confident in THEIR creativity is essential in cultivating a creative classroom.
Q1: How do you instill creative confidence in your students?✨
#DitchBook
A1 By first allowing Ss time & opportunity to explore what makes them tick, what makes them passionate. And then time to explore before having to produce. #ditchbook
#ditchbook A1 Do your best! Don’t be afraid to fail. Always tell them to go with a feeling and give your best effort. In my 1980s class, they had to create original music videos. I was amazed at some of the concepts that were created, especially from Ss that had always struggled
A1 Teaching 5th Grade, I have noticed that students are so used to following the exact expectations of teachers, this is a difficult task. Keep encouraging them and praising their efforts and creativity. Encourage them that creativity will bloom through failures. #DitchBook
✨Getting students to be confident in THEIR creativity is essential in cultivating a creative classroom.
Q1: How do you instill creative confidence in your students?✨
#DitchBook
A1: Students have to feel safe and validated with their work. Once this need is met, students feel comfortable and confident enough to be more bold/creative with their work. #DitchBook
A1: By creating constant opportunities for them to get outside their comfort zone & produce amazing things daily! I scaffold the creativity where I can as well! #DitchBook
A1: On man, after a long Parent-Teacher Conference night I am not in the right mind to provide quality answers. I’ll just sit back and read tonight. 😞 #DitchBook
I encourage Ss to NOT use the templates. I tell them they can learn from the design elements, but make their own b/c it makes it their own, and b/c they CAN. #ditchbook
A1: I give them a chance to find their own strengths w/creativity. We work on learning from mistakes and being okay with failing. I also share with them when I fail at something creative. I feel that helps make them comfortable if they know I struggle too sometimes. #DitchBook
✨Getting students to be confident in THEIR creativity is essential in cultivating a creative classroom.
Q1: How do you instill creative confidence in your students?✨
#DitchBook
A1: By practicing A LOT. Luckily a lot of my Kinders have that confidence already and it's just a mission to keep it fresh and keep them believing in their awesome creative talent! #DitchBook
✨Getting students to be confident in THEIR creativity is essential in cultivating a creative classroom.
Q1: How do you instill creative confidence in your students?✨
#DitchBook
A1 when doing something new or starting a project I always let my Ss get some playtime. It’s risk free and then they get to practice being creative before applying it to the project. #ditchbook
I used to work at a #PBL school and grouping students, giving a few guidelines, and telling to have at it went so far! You're doing the same thing! #ditchbook
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
A1: #ditchbook offering students choice of how to show learning; let them play to their strengths. Also, display work! Students love to see their work and are proud so they will give better quality when they know it will be seen!
Yes! I've started cursing student projects on my personal website and YouTube to serve as exemplars but also breed more confidence in those students. #DitchBook
A1: We practice it together. We are learning how to be independent explorers, we create games, anchor charts, slide shows, etc on different standards. So much fun. I believe in glitter! #ditchbook
I have done that as well. Sometimes you get Ss who copy other ideas. I know those Ss are not yet comfortable with their own creativity and we need to foster it. #ditchbook
Reading this reminded me of how I used to draw the State of Nevada as a crude version of a guy with a flattop haircut and a pointy chin for my students in history class, not sure why! #ditchbook
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
Q2: My campus is still fairly new to technology so I’m still exploring, and I have “tech leaders” each week look for and review various tools. This week’s tools are Canva and Surori. They come up with possible ways to use them too! Student lesson planning! #ditchbook
A3: Wide open platforms. IMovie, WEVideo, Google Sites. Blanker the slate the better. PS - My 3rd grader loves making Kahoots for his class. So proud of that. #DitchBook
Pushback is even more when I tell them they can't use more than 6 words on a slide by the end of the semester. Show me, don't make me read it. #ditchbook
A2: @Flipgrid gets the creative, brainstorming juices flowing, but for generating content I use @AdobeSpark. It allows Ss to easily create products for class. #DitchBook
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
A2: This may seem like a pat answer, but the Swiss Army Knife of the G Suite tools, G Slides, seems to ignite my Ss creativity. Here's an example of how creative they were with a dialogue practice #CaptionThis assignment yesterday: #DitchBook
Sometimes, even if they just "copy" and idea, it'll be something of better quality and foster more learning than if they didn't have the example at all, I have experienced both sides of this #ditchbook
A1 The past couple of days I had students have creativity contests. I gave the Ss vocabulary words and they have to put them in the most sentency sentence. We promote everyone's good ideas! #ditchbook
A2: Google Drawings. Giving students a blank canvas with minimal directions to guide their creativity has been amazing! I enjoy seeing what they develop! #ditchbook
No, no. As an upper grades teacher, opening up kids to creativity is like pulling teeth with no drugs. They beg for spoon feeding and simple activities. Doesn’t stop me from asking for posters, podcasts, short films, and other projects. But man, it’s exhausting. #ditchbook
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
Yes, so important to stretch our creativity alongside our Ss. Models we're not afraid to make mistakes. Promotes risk-taking and trying new things. #DitchBook
#ditchbook A2: Using Google Drawings, Bloxels, and by doing #paperslides ; a blend of analog drawings and digital. Ss love doing them and make some really creative products to show off thir learning. It's fun and FREE!
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
A2 @quizlet and @Flipgrid have been great ways to show what students know and to allow them to share their thoughts as well. Also @plickers is a fun way to review with just one iPad in the classroom #ditchbook
A2 #ditchbook Honestly, YouTube and Vimeo or any platform that can expose kids to lots of ideas - I think you need to INSPIRE creativity, not just provide tools
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
A2 My 2nd graders have loved google slide & screencastify to make movies & the new google site. Here's a movie from last year: https://t.co/AW1TCahRYn#ditchbook
✨There are several tech tools that can assist in sparking creativity.
Q2: What tech tools have your students used that seem to ignite their creativity?✨
#DitchBook
A1: I ALWAYS compliment my Ss on what they do well before I ever give tips/ideas. Additionally, I try to ask my Ss questions to open their mind and get them to go deeper with whatever they’re creating. #DitchBook
✨A3: The #TLAP Hook Challenge from @jmattmiller blog post has sparked so much creativity in my classroom!
The PDF of the hooks is a permanent tool I use when planning lessons now!✨
#DitchBook
✨More Info:
https://t.co/2OWlkxJ0pl
Super Yikes! And then some parents look at you like you’re the reason their kids aren’t successful. Because you push them to go beyond - swimming upstream is never easy. #ditchbook
A1: give Ss lots of opportunities to try new things...let them find “their jam”. Stand alongside and give encouraging words for those who need that extra boost. #DitchBook
A2: @DebDitoro and I were scheming for next year! I think we are going to teach a handful of tools (#Sketchnotes, #BookSnaps, #DoInk, etc.) at the beginning of the year with get-to-know-you activities, & then the students will have a TECH TOOLBELT from the start! #DitchBook
A2 A couple of weeks ago I had some students use Google Drawings to make their own signs in Spanish. They could make them for their house, the cafeteria, the halls, or the public. Giving them variety in their imagined audience stimulates creativity. #ditchbook
A3: I try to make sure that all of our projects provide a creative outlet for students.
During Nearpod lessons I do "image only" responses to discussion questions which forces kids to get creative with their thinking. #DitchBook
Google Drawing is an amazing tool. It's vector drawing so it's very high quality. You can create huge posters and it won't lose it's clarity. #ditchbook
A3: We will do random creative writing prompts during the day - this year my class LOVES creative writing. I do my best to include something creative in each of their activities during the day. Typically they have an ongoing project to work on as well. #ditchbook
Q3: One easy way is our free play time at the end of the day, so much creativity flowing out of my little people when given the right tools to explore! #DitchBook
A2: Oh, yeah!! How could I forget @flipgrid??!! We are taking extra Chromebooks to camp with us next week for #campconfessionals with pre-determined questions can’t wait!! #DitchBook
A3 the less they me talking and the more doing my students get to do=more creativity time. You can’t push student to accomplish more if your always telling them exactly what to do. #ditchbook
A3: Definitely teach a bunch of tools/strategies then let Ss choose the one that fits their needs best. A fave to bring out creativity is #Sketchnotes so there's always an opportunity to be creative! #DitchBook
A3 Build it into daily lesson plan. No matter the assignment, even reading responses, they ask if they can hop on a chrome book to create their response mimicking a project we did in the past. It becomes spontaneous, and I love that! #DitchBook
A3 I try to mix up different opportunities for students to expand their creativity through technology ideas but also by providing choice boards for assignments #ditchbook
A3: We use a lot of Collins Type 1 & 2 writings...Love dropping in random creative prompts, Like write about being a spider in a room from spider perspective, "Why do people scream when they see me?" #DitchBook
Q3: I have been focusing more on choice through choice boards, menus, hyperdocs, etc. Even stations are now choice-based- students choose where to go and on what day. #ditchbook
Not sure how much they can do inside the museum, hopefully they can use them by the exhibit they're sharing about, but otherwise their creativity is going to have to really come out. #ditchbook
A3: This is tough to do daily, but I try to give kids as much choice as I can in their work. Options. This allows kids to determine their own approach to the assignments and go front there. #ditchbook
A3: I encourage Ss to take notes how it best suits them, for some that's visually. I do teach some visual note-taking skills at the beginning of the year. #ditchbook
A3: Even on a day where you are using more direct instruction, a tool like @PearDeck disguises assessment as fun activities with their drawing, draggable, and other assessment slide types #ditchbook
A3: Build it in to a daily activity ... same activity but different prompt.
#EduProtocols by @jcorippo is all about this ... low prep, high engagement and creativity! #DitchBook
Definitely so hard when they've been conditioned into apathy and submission. But don't give up! I'm sure they all love you for it. What grade(s) do you teach? #ditchbook
In reply to
@justaddison, @astylishteacher, @KimSnodgrass
I've had my Ss created comic books in slides (thanks @jmattmiller) When you save as a PDF you can open in iBooks and the pages turn. Ss think it's amazing. #ditchbook
In reply to
@rachelmarker, @DoInkTweets, @BookCreatorApp, @jmattmiller
All are so open-ended. Ss can do so much with them across content areas–even a simple explanation to a math problem or response to text. Doesn't have to be a big end-of-unit project. :) #ditchbook
In reply to
@JWalterTeach, @DoInkTweets, @BookCreatorApp
A2...first i ♥️ this q as i can see what other are using!
Our favs are Paper 53, #BookCreator, 💥#Flipgrid 💥 I’d like to dive into Puppetedu and buncee and thinglink too! #DitchBook
A3: A3: That depends on what the students want: it’s all about choice that leads them to express their creativity. Writers workshop, creative story retells, to free expression of morning choice. #ditchbook
Awesome! I've been using it to add 'stickers' to my grading in Google Docs and @Schoology We all know HS Seniors regress & love stickers again. #ditchbook
In reply to
@KimSnodgrass, @nateshankles, @Schoology
A4 In order to infuse more creativity I have had to change my teaching and get out of my comfort zone. Also expanding my reading and connections across social media platforms. #ditchbook
@DebDitoro and I used @DoInkTweets this week, and it was INSANELY easy. We used green paper from our paper cart and it worked perfectly! HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! #DitchBook
In reply to
@becksbackyard, @TTmomTT, @DoInkTweets, @DebDiToro, @DoInkTweets
A3: I try to have a variety of activities or projects that allow for putting in a personal twist or flair. This doesn't happen each day though I'd love to do that. #ditchbook
A4: Went with more of a "soft start" for morning work instead of boring WS etc. Ss can collaborate and create with legos, create art of their choosing; providing more choice for Ss response in reading via tech #ditchbook
More and more I have the students create a product for assessment. The old tests were boring. Student-created work in which they have choice is more exciting and can accomplish the same amount of learning if not more. #ditchbook
A4: Always up for trying out something new. I have recruited enough students for a gamified ACT WorkKeys Prep class using fantasy football to gamify the content in the Fall.
#DitchBook
#DitchBook A4: Going beyond the walls of the classroom! We have taken our Ss this year to Russia, Canada, France, Sweden and Israel. Tomorrow onto Denmark. Great opportunity for our students to learn geography skills and share their culture!
✨"We have unbelievably talented kids sitting in front of us and many are starving for the opportunity to display their creativity."✨
~Dave Burgess
#TLAP#DitchBook
A3: This is a tough one! We use #GoogleSlides nearly everyday in our classroom and I encourage Ss to insert bitmojis, call outs, shapes, etc. although if I’m honest, I could do a lot better at adding the creative element DAILY #DitchBook
Well, keep fighting the good fight. We need you! Saddens me to think that so many Ss just learn to "do school." This is not the goal, people. 🙈 #ditchbook
In reply to
@justaddison, @astylishteacher, @KimSnodgrass
A4: More and more I have the students create a product for assessment. The old tests were boring. Student-created work in which they have choice is more exciting and can accomplish the same amount of learning if not more. #ditchbook
.@MrHaney17 FULL student engagement, takeaways that share Ss the presentation AND the answers they give, variety of slide types from standard to embedded video and website, MC, text, so much more! #ditchbook#peardeck#sharethepear#perfectpear
A4: Currently using John Lewis’s March graphic novel series to show artistic expression, creative writing, and historical exploration. All this leading up to a trip to a National Civil Rights Museum and then a reflection project utilizing creativity. #DitchBook
A4: I have flexible seating and allow the students a choice of where they sit and can work comfortably, but also they get to move around during the day. As far as teaching I involve them and ask them for suggestions on how to make activities more creative. #DitchBook
A4: Transform my room, bring in guests to play "Red Death," create #SketchnotesGO (sketchnotes graphic organizers) 2 scaffold Ss learning 2 make #sketchnotes & figured out how 2 make it possible 4 Ss 2 comment on each other's blogs using G Sites & Classroom! #DitchBook
A4 Struggle with this one. Feel like I’m in a rut right now. Need to mix it up and do something dynamic to get us all back on fire about our purpose! #DitchBook
A4: I do my best to mix it up... IT = activities. Now what I need to do, give options with what the kids have learned to make/use! #booksnaps or @Flipgrid or Google Slides #ditchbook
