#6thchat Archive
#6thchat is used to chat, collaborate, and grow with other sixth grade educators from around the globe. Each session we discuss a topic voted on by #6thchat participants. It's a great way to help grow your PLN and share ideas with others.
Tuesday October 25, 2016
My name is Kristin, and I moderate ! This is one of my favorite groups of people, so welcome! I teach ELA and SS in Lansing, Mich.
Hello , made it back in time for the whole chat. I teach 6th ELA in Waukegan, Illinois
Brett from Iowa, math/sci/ss Glad to be here tonight. In and out with heavy paper grading though
Rachael, math and science, Rochester, MN
Good evening! Lorena, 6th gr Social Studies T, Dodge City, KS
We will use the Q1/A1, Q2/A2, etc...
Leigh Anne ELA from Indiana and trying to join two chats!
Hello . Going to multi-multi-task. 2 chats & the game.
Hi ! We are an education focused tech startup in New Zealand! Looking forward to the conversation! https://t.co/FvESYXshJK
Hi Lorena! Great to see you! Another week went by quickly!
Hello! Tracy, 6th gr science from MA going to try to follow both & tonight.
yes! It was a fast week! Always a pleasure to join 6th chat!
Good evening I am a 6th ELA teacher at ❤️, now a TOSA-Instructional Coach for grades 6-12. Glad to join as much as I can tonight.
A1) Being an innovative educator = not being afraid to fail; deep desire to provide Ss w/collaborative, engaging learning opps.
Welcome to our Oceania friends!
A1: Being an innovative educator means to try new things and not be afraid to fail.
Welcome Sandy! So happy to have you!
A1 An innovated educator is one who never quits learning.
A1 Quick from Bench to Class ideas to better instruction. Open to all sources.
A1: It means being innovative within the box/standards,pirating up my lessons-creating experiences. Being renegade.
A1 Innovative educators are not afraid to try new things with their students.
A1: an innovative teacher looks at problems and finds new and creative ways around them
A1: Innovation is when my talents, experiences & knowledge are applied to solving problems.
A1: instead of problems they see opportunities
A1: It means always looking for ways to improve yourself and your teaching (and Ss). Never be complacent, everyone can be better
A1- Innovative teachers can allow the Ss teach the T, it can be ideas, solutions to even classroom arrangement.
Innovator = Agitator= Disruptor are many cases much the same.
Sometimes it is under a box, over a box, or through the box, but the box never defines the path. https://t.co/9N8o7cnNWv
A1: an innovative teacher looks at problems and finds new and creative ways around them
I have been known to be a "little" like that too!
A2) Find out Ss interests, & then make deliberate choices so Ss interests are honored through the learning experiences in my class
Just put that on my reading list. Thank you!
A2 Build as much 1:1 S time as I can. Build relationships to DRIVE the learning!
A2: I do a lot of tech integration especially compared to some other Ts in my building. I love trying out new sites and apps w/ Ss
A2 I've been working hard at giving kids choice in how they show their understandings and also what routes they take to get there.
Amazing! Scaffolded writers workshop using authors' advice as mentor text. Leads up to
Q2: start by getting to really know my students. If you know what makes them tick you can use those strategies for anything
I do too, and I find sometimes the Ss need to know it's okay to show what you know differently than another Ss
A2- I do centers for some of my units, this allows for Ss choice, Ss can choose how they demonstrate their learning
Same here.But keeping the learning at the forefront is essential. New & shiny can get old real quick w/out end goal.
I've become a huge fan of menus for kids to choose from. A lot of work in the beginning, but boy do they learn!
A3) Not only develop relationships between self & Ss, but help foster positive interaction btwn Ss thru collaborative assignments
I love doing these, too. Gives options but yet learning targets are clear.
A3: My admin have been moving us towards doing small group instruction for 2nd half of block classes to focus in on small groups
A3: I start my math class with a morning meeting, even with my non-homeroom class, and use responsive classroom
Live off my small groups! Love it! https://t.co/CSawTcsAx3
A3: My admin have been moving us towards doing small group instruction for 2nd half of block classes to focus in on small groups
A3: Gamification-Ss in factions working to earn XP (team challenges), where they comment in writing groups.
Are you guys middle school or 6th elementary? Find it hard to do groups in middle w/ 100+ students.
A3- beginning of the year,Ss work heavily w partners and small groups. Helps Ss connect to each other, time for me to get 1:1 time
I call mine a "morning briefing" since we work on "missions" in a gamified classroom. Some Ss "agents" take lead
Im 6th MS with two 90 min math blocks. Gives me lots of flexability.
Love your wording Kristin!
That would be a great block of time. Lucky you!
We are a 5/6 school and also do 90 min blocks; best way
I bet they love that! Much more mature sounding too
A4) For me, Explore Like a Pirate by = wake-up call that I could achieve engaged, innovative learning thru power of games
A4 Visible Learning by John Hattie. Tough read but now I look differently on how my instruction impacts learning.
A3: Make it small! Use groups assignments like presentations/reenactments/plays. Have groups change so everyone knows each other
I read this over the summer. Going to work on gamifying one unit this year.
I agree...really helps to prioritize your instructional choices and how you spend your time.
A4: I recently read 's Play Like a Pirate, which was a fantastic read about integrating comics, legos, and pop culture
Yes! I gamified my ELA 3rd tri & had Ss beating down the door to get in. Total engagement.
A4- I need a good book to read! Finished up grad work this summer, I was a bit burnt on reading. Time to get back in!
I gamify at begin and phase out through the year to build intrinsic motivation.
A4: Not new, but Start With Why has made me believe "why" is the most important word in the classroom, for Ss, T, and P
Yes! That's the other one I read last spring and I now use legos, playdoh and more.
Which one?! We read "and science of how we learn" for my masters and I LOVED it!
A4 Books about formative assessment by Page Keeley have really inspired me to go deeper w/ kids' understanding.
So many to choose from! Everyone here could probably recommend 20! :)
True, and it is easy to overlook. Good to have this be the target of lesson design
Will check this out. Haven't read this.
that's my favorite question to ask students...over and over again! they roll their eyes but it gets them thinking!
I was definitely a tad overwhelmed to think about a whole year's worth right out of the gate!
A5) I love . Many interactive videos ready to go/easy to edit. I can correct & respond to Ss; no more Ss naps during video
Do it! You'll never look back! Right, and ?
I read Innovator Mindset, but I see I need to get The Renegade Leadership now!
A4: I also recently read another fantastic read about remembering why we do what we do
A5 Design to support my Google classroom. Also use lots of to support differintiation.
Q5: WeVideo- super simple video editing program to make quick and easy movies that are more engaging than just reports or ppts
Me too, but I was reassured I didn't need it all planned out, & I can build as I go. Took pressure off
A6: I am trying out which I learned about at as well as which is one I want to use more
Have you tried ? My kiddos LOVE it!
A5- Skitch and Slide Show for quick Ss explanation of learning
I must admit I haven't read this one yet, but totally support the message and read the blog posts.
Yes, I even won a lego set from him at last summer! He is inspiring!
Is this a free app or is it web- based? https://t.co/moiXPjgEyK
Q5: WeVideo- super simple video editing program to make quick and easy movies that are more engaging than just reports or ppts
How do you use it Brett? I have used it in Genius Hour. Other ideas?
no, but I've used educreations with pretty good success in the past, I'll have to investigate thx!
A6) Allow Ss to explore concepts, make discoveries, teach one another; use to share, collaborate
And when ends tonight, I will wander over to my column for for some more ideas!
A6 Love when my chats overlap! Great minds! https://t.co/nCO31C9eRs
A5 Students having a say in what or how they are learning, hands-on experiences, knowing that they are truly liked & valued.
A5: Live using -especially for teaching and practicing speaking Also,
web-based, has a free 90 day teacher trial includes green screen and 30 users to collaborate on videos
A6: Sometimes you have to stretch how it fits the standard to make it fit w/ Ss and get them engaged
students work through math problems and talk through their thinking
A6- sometimes I will ask Ss to rate the lesson. They are honest and let me see things I would have never noticed.
I haven't heard of this one!Easy to use?
Sounds like something I need to check out! TY
Q6: try to make them as real-life and applicable as possible, like planning class party to reinforce unit rates and % discounts
Ditto! Kiddos take to it easy and saves to for easy turn in. https://t.co/6cjs2elMT8
students work through math problems and talk through their thinking
A7 is a habit .... or an addiction?
A7) Curiosity, not afraid to fail, passionate about improving Ss and self as educator; believe always room for improvement
A7 The mindset that anything is possible. Instilling the message that this is important, Ss can do it & we won't give up on them.
I just started using Doctopus and Goobric grading and wondered why I didn't use these tools earlier! I could have had a v-8!
Q7: keep improving and experimenting, never settle for the same thing year after year, there's always room for improvement/updates
I "heart" this....begins as a habit, then becomes a pleasant addiction! https://t.co/MC1fJ3vEyc
A7 is a habit .... or an addiction?
A7: Always analyze what you are doing: What am I doing well, what can I improve. Do not be afraid of radical change/ideas
A7: Always learning and willing to try new things, you can't be innovative by thinking about it. You have to DO something
A7- Definitely a mindset matter, keep learning, keep sharing and not get stuck doing the same thing, over and over.
So true...purposeful, intentional work https://t.co/bDJjNMRp0h
A7: Always learning and willing to try new things, you can't be innovative by thinking about it. You have to DO something
A7 Honestly, its all about reflection. Reflect to create change at lightspeed to improve S outcomes!
This is so true! If we don't reflect on what we've done, then we continue to do the same old, same old.
A8) Global Read Aloud, , skype, blogging, tweet authors or researchers for information
A8- this is tough because of age limitations but Google has many ways to work collaboratively
A8: This is 1 area I would like to improve, but I try in class through things like and Google Classroom comments
A8 Twitter, participating in , Google Classroom, working on a skype session
I love the flexibility of Padlet. Ss are less afraid to contribute anything!
I love padlet, and the kids love seeing their responses pop up on the board
Once again hits home runs with every response. I have many new reads and tips to try as I continue my quest of innovation
Once again hits home runs with every response. I have many new reads and tips to try as I continue my quest of innovation
A8- our school will begin to use e-announce which they will build their e-portfolio for grades 6, 7,8 Ss can connect on there
I haven't run into that yet, but we're new to that format, so...
Thank you ! As we wind down, be sure to follow one another! We are better together.
thank you! So glad I could be here for the whole time this week! :)
Thanks for the ideas Feeling inspired to continue to be innovative knowing my has my back!
I just tell them that I'll delete anything that isn't on topic, respectful, or generally appropriate
A1 We were talking about the symbolism of the toy soldier in the book PAX
I set pretty clear expectations w/ Kahoot nicknames, so I'm sure it'll be similar.
