We'd be remiss if we didn't suggest #HackLearning books as insightful, innovative, actionable, and surprisingly inexpensive tools for #BackToSchool strategies.
Here are 20 selections with What-You-Can-Do-Tomorrow solutions.
https://t.co/4Dmzo7Y4ss#sunchat#edchat
Susan from the Jersey Shore - I got a haircut this week and decided to update my bitmoji - I spent a half hour just picking out a new outfit! #sunchat - Looking forward to chatting!
#sunchat As I unpacked my class library this past week to get ready for school to begin, I thought long and hard about how to present it in a way that would appeal to the kids... decided on milk crate seating and a throw rug...
Love this topic! It is so dear to me!
There are so many key factors I. This discussion, but one that has really jumped to the forefront for me is the importance of student voice. Would love to hear what this looks like in some of your crooms! #sunchat
#sunchat Room size and 28 students is prohibiting me from doing anything different than rows in my room, and that's freaking me out. I like groups and circles... now I'm a bit limited because if have so many student desks! #freakout
Totally understand! I’ve got three classes over 33 kids! Best thing I ever did was ditch desks and move to circle tables; freed up so much room and it’s great for small group! #sunchat
I’m spending energy on grants and donations to get rid of large wooden tables and chairs in the library. Students love it and choose where it goes in the room. #SunChat
For a student centered classroom, I’m trying to give them authentic tasks that help them connect to the world and help them create new media and see the world as a place for them. #sunchat
For a student centered classroom, I’m trying to give them authentic tasks that help them connect to the world and help them create new media and see the world as a place for them. #sunchat
Every Friday we share a student spotlight course newsletter, highlighting work products and student writing. But this year I’ve tweaked my student blogging approach using Google Sites: one new choice entry per student each unit. ♥️♠️♦️♣️ https://t.co/fjB14q0yGa#sunchat
For our croom, student voice is literal! I want to hear kids talk in a meaningful way every day! I also want them to understand that with voice comes responsibility- informed discourse! #sunchat
Our Ts are inventing ways to create spaces without spending $$$. This is how one T used crates screwed into the wall for stand-up or sit-down work space. #SunChat
I love the topic of student-centered and student-focused learning environments. It is at the heart of my new position. Many teachers ask how they set up such classrooms when they have curricula designed around lectures. I say the curricula is a guide, not a script! #sunchat
absolutely! But I like the flexibility of having some space to break out in and move around in... I'm lacking that this year. We like each other enough, but sometimes we just need some space... #sunchat
Student friendly and student centered is a big push for my yearlong @DreamRushEDU approach. Imagine a living RPG with new chapters, bosses, side quests, collectibles, and power-ups. Like a massive video game. https://t.co/evRhdLPb1U#sunchat
Yes but... a student looks at the configuration and assumes how the position of power is in the room. Configuration matters. Decorations matter. Choice matters. #sunchat
We're moving towards student self-assessment in all classes this year. After some Ts piloted last year with great success, almost everyone wants to get on board! #sunchat
Ultimately yes, but often the district/school requires that there be stuff that we teach that they can’t choose. How do we give them choice and autonomy within a district standard curriculum? I teach Am. Lit and AP Lang. #sunchat
In reply to
@3_DLeadership, @BradyVenables, @TheKevinMCline
Yes! I’ve been working on incorporating student Choice in assessment since last year, kids seem to respond well. Biggest challenge- making sure choices are equitable #sunchat
#sunchat Yes! One of the first things we review is how to respond to someone else's comment with respect and how to disagree respectfully. Important word choice.
For our croom, student voice is literal! I want to hear kids talk in a meaningful way every day! I also want them to understand that with voice comes responsibility- informed discourse! #sunchat
We started the year off strong with a gamified syllabus. Ditched the usual procedural rundown in favor of a team race through ten interactive stations like @padlet@Flipgrid#sketchnoting and @Google Forms. Learned SO MUCH MORE. Please steal it! https://t.co/fNci7xbwnM#sunchat
Our Ts are inventing ways to create spaces without spending $$$. This is how one T used crates screwed into the wall for stand-up or sit-down work space. #SunChat
I think we are having two conversations today. Student-centered in terms of instruction and providing spaces for student voice, and student-centered in terms of actual classroom design. They are not always related. #sunchat
Yes but also ask the students. Maybe give them an exercise in groups of designing different floor plans. Sometimes we have limits & give students choices of who to sit w instead. #sunchat
Student self assessment should be reflective and self-guided. Let them choose the skills that they want to work on that you’re going to assess next, encouraging them to move on once they have reached mastery. #sunchat
I have a community centered environment. I went out into the community and gathered problems. My students are partnering with DSS to meet the needs of the community. By allowing my students to become Heroes they find what they're good at.
My classes used the halls for construction! Busy productive means noisy. Part of maker mentality. I send over chocolate/coffee to fellow teachers. #sunchat
Agree - there are a lot of challenges along the way. But the change in S attitude to learning is worth it! I stopped hearing "Carla, the ____ teacher hates me. S/he always gives me bad grades." They took ownership. #sunchat
Love this! Consider turning rubrics into radar charts to help students get a clearer visual sense of what’s working and where they still need to grow. Outstanding to prompt shared scoring norms, chart growth over time, and encourage deeper self reflection. #sunchat
When I think of student-centered, I think of ownership. Often, that looks like choice. Even when choices are limited by outside guidelines, if we can help students feel ownership over their learning, I believe that's a student-centered classroom. #sunchat
A student-centered classroom looks and sounds like:
o Ss working autonomously (either in teams or individually) on rigorous tasks.
o Ss doing most of the talking in a lesson.
o T worked hard on lesson prep but Ss are working harder than the T during the actual lesson. #sunchat
#sunchat As I unpacked my class library this past week to get ready for school to begin, I thought long and hard about how to present it in a way that would appeal to the kids... decided on milk crate seating and a throw rug...
Interesting - I always rotated so that includes cloakrooms. Supervision is part of school community thought. Is it only me or do we all own the responsibility for OUR students in the community? #sunchat
Big push this year will be turning rubrics into radar charts to help students get a clearer visual sense of what’s working and where they still need to grow. Outstanding tool to prompt shared scoring norms, chart growth over time, and encourage deeper self reflection. #sunchat
Good morning #sunchat. I'm Tim, an assistant principal at @CoventryOakers in Rhode Island.
We began the year working to build a culture based on Collaboration, Inspiration and Appreciation for faculty and students in everything we teach and learn from and with one another.
Carla, would love to see what you are doing with this. Can you share anything with me? I have students self-assess their writing, but would love to expand. #sunchat
Wow! This is brilliant! But I would put one on the outside and four or five on the inside so that the center is meeting or exceeding expectations. #sunchat
There's a difference between having a curriculum and having a script. With solid curriculum mapping, you can honor both the standards and student-centered approaches. We should stop looking at standards as enemies. They don't have to be. Scripted curriculums though... #sunchat
Ultimately yes, but often the district/school requires that there be stuff that we teach that they can’t choose. How do we give them choice and autonomy within a district standard curriculum? I teach Am. Lit and AP Lang. #sunchat
In reply to
@3_DLeadership, @BradyVenables, @TheKevinMCline
I’m really investing in nurturing as many students in the library as I can just through conversation... goal: create a safe space where they feel comfortable exploring and being curious.
#SunChat
Love this! Consider turning rubrics into radar charts to help students get a clearer visual sense of what’s working and where they still need to grow. Outstanding to prompt shared scoring norms, chart growth over time, and encourage deeper self reflection. #sunchat
Absolutely teachers can override! Just remember that students will have a knee-jerk emotional response to the visuals in room or on paper. If room is configured in rows, you may have to overcome the emotional response. #sunchat
A student-centered classroom looks and sounds like:
o Ss working autonomously (either in teams or individually) on rigorous tasks.
o Ss doing most of the talking in a lesson.
o T worked hard on lesson prep but Ss are working harder than the T during the actual lesson. #sunchat
This is what I did in LA, Susan. A small tweak to my writing workshop that had amazing results! My Ss asked me to teach all the Ts to do it. #sunchathttps://t.co/cNQ30RmjkE
Interesting. I see where you’re coming from, but I like the visual of “stretching” / seeing the growth. Very helpful if Ss use the same chart (with different colored pencils) for each new assessment. Sparks great conversation & clear, actionable plans for improvement. #sunchat
I think I need to learn more about building student centric lessons, but I also need to get over the fear of failure if I want to try something new. #sunchat
I definitely agree that supervision of students is the responsibility of all teachers, but teachers are generally in the rooms, not out in the halls. And my room generally didn't have any spaces not visible to the teacher. (Students weren't allowed in the closets.) #sunchat
My most interesting "space" class was 48 5th graders in a regular-sized 5th grade classroom with all the furniture. Of course, I taught orchestra, so we we had to fit cases & everything around all of those desks. Really made us rethink assumptions...(1/2)
#sunchat
Switching to the environment side: I’ve been a fan of flexible seating since before it was cool, BUT it only works if the teacher can tolerate it AND the teacher has the classroom management skills to pull it off. #sunchat
(2/2)...like using music stands. A standard part of our equipment, right? With no room, we moved to using the projector & other various "hacks". Really opened up my thinking for other spaces, too! #sunchat
Used whiteboard paper to cover some tables, vertical surfaces like file cabinets, back of shelves, bottoms of walls to create more creative space to hold ideas, webs #sunchat
Fail forward, friend! If we want our students to assume growth mindsets, we have to model it. Besides, you have a whole #sunchat PLN to help. We have ALL failed before.
I think I need to learn more about building student centric lessons, but I also need to get over the fear of failure if I want to try something new. #sunchat
I can understand that interpretation, too! I think most students and parents will look at it as a target though, so it would take quite a shift to change the view. Either way is a better design that table chart rubrics! #sunchat
We started with 3 immediate initiatives: 1. Helping all teachers to build a #PLN to learn and share best practice w/the world. 2. Transformed #PD time from top down to #geniushour time. 3. Provided a quick/easy way for teachers to easily recognize/appreciate one another. #sunchat
That is so important. Once they realize the reason WHY they were graded as they were, THEN they have the means to change it. In writing, I have them highlight their writing to show the skills we learned. If they can't see it, they know they didn't do it. #sunchat 1/2
Chalkboard contact paper on the circulation desk in the library. I taught the student pictured how to use his flash drive and now he comes to see me 2x a week, volunteered to draw a rocket for me (bottom right) & then others posted their 💕.
#SunChat
Added to my wish list! We don’t get money at our district to buy curriculum, so everything I want to learn is on my own dime. I learn what I can from all of you! And it’s great learning too! #sunchat
In reply to
@MeehanEDU, @tiffanytruitt, @LiteracyWorld
Thats really too bad. Wondering if thats more of a mindset. SS need spaces to show their independence. And a few minutes alone as long as you know where they are should be ok. Wondering if this could be brought up again with your staff? #sunchat
Yes! And many curricula that have a script are actually just examples of how the lesson might go, not how it must go. (Not all, of course; there are some awful "say this this way" curricula out there!) Standards and curricula don't dictate, they guide by giving structure #sunchat
2/2 #sunchat For example, highlight where you used evidence from the text in response to the prompt. Or, highlight your thesis statement. Did you write it as a statement? or, highlight where you correctly formatted your dialogue with commas and quotation marks.
We started with 3 immediate initiatives: 1. Helping all teachers to build a #PLN to learn and share best practice w/the world. 2. Transformed #PD time from top down to #geniushour time. 3. Provided a quick/easy way for teachers to easily recognize/appreciate one another. #sunchat
Thanks! Here in @GIPublicSchools we are working to become more student-centered with rigor (in PK-12) thanks to a partnership with @Learn_Sci! It’s been an amazing journey and we’re only one year in! #sunchat
In reply to
@tiffanytruitt, @GIPublicSchools, @Learn_Sci
2/2 #sunchat For example, highlight where you used evidence from the text in response to the prompt. Or, highlight your thesis statement. Did you write it as a statement? or, highlight where you correctly formatted your dialogue with commas and quotation marks.
This brings me back to discussions we've had on #sunchat about designing the perfect school. Physical plant is just as important - and sometimes restrictive - to what we know we should do or provide for students.
Thats really too bad. Wondering if thats more of a mindset. SS need spaces to show their independence. And a few minutes alone as long as you know where they are should be ok. Wondering if this could be brought up again with your staff? #sunchat
Well, I'm in a different district now, but the building where this was an issue had some major student violence issues that needed to be resolved first. But building student independence and accountability is so very important! #sunchat
Our focus on Inspiration focused on how voice, choice, opportunities to create/share what they know in different ways and share their work with an audience beyond their teacher for feedback engenders intrinsic motivation and authentic learning. #sunchat
YES! Conversations about space is bigger than equipment or logistics. Mindsets are the unspoken & perhaps drives more than we consider. Restrictions implied need to constantly be reviewed #sunchat
My school hallways are entirely outdoor! We have an area outside my room called "The Venturino Zone" Kids know the boundaries and I can watch in and out at my door. Or we all go outside to the grass or benches. #sunchat
Yup. Most of our schools were designed in the 1950s to be utilitarian facilities to train compliant workers. While we are very creative when it comes to adapting our spaces to 21st century learning, there are still very real physical limitations. #sunchat
Is there really a perfect school? I think we all should strive to make our environment reflect our passions so students will enjoy working in our spaces of learning. #sunchat
My “dream” classroom would have individual tables, not attached to chairs that would move around with flexible seating. We are currently stuck with desk/chair combos. #sunchat
We built the second half of our secondary this summer & put in sliding doors between classrooms so that they can open up for larger group work. #sunchat
Love that -bring the outdoors in. I used to have a portable which extended to outdoors. I put in picnic table, chairs, umbrellas, flowerbeds. I could eyeball everything. #sunchat
For sure. Once the culture and climate of the school is student-centered and student-focused teaching and learning from before the first bell to after the last, so much will change for teachers, students, families, and everyone else! #sunchat
#truth Teachers need to sometimes be very creative in what can be done within the confines of 4 walls. Today's newer schools have much different layouts physically which are conducive to today's educational practices. #sunchat In a perfect world..... you know the rest...
Yup. Most of our schools were designed in the 1950s to be utilitarian facilities to train compliant workers. While we are very creative when it comes to adapting our spaces to 21st century learning, there are still very real physical limitations. #sunchat
Kim, principal from DE jumping in late! I encouraged Ts to build relationshipsfirst then worry about your space. I am excited to have a new school with a rooftop classroom in a few years! #sunchat
It was a great start. Teachers are energized & super positive. But it's just the tip of the iceberg. The initial genius hour projects alone have the power to transform our practices, learning environments, school culture & the social/emotional well being of our students. #sunchat
#sunchat Gotta run! Thanks for all the ideas! Looking forward to seeing you next week - my first day of school is Tuesday. Have a wonderful week, everyone!
We're in a rainy climate so I get that. We tend to bounce. We call it westcoast recess -dress for it. Our northern districts think we're wimpy as they pile in for the deep snow and still go out. :) #sunchat
I have heard so much amazing stuff about genius hour and have been to conferences and gone to sessions to learn how to implement it. It’s one of my “scary but someday…” lesson ideas to implement. Maybe start in second quarter. #sunchat
Last thought on environments for the day: A teacher’s passion for _________ seating and decor is not right for every student or every group of learners. Know your students and adjust if needed. That is flexibility. #sunchat
I have maybe less than 5 days where we can't work outside! It really is wonderful! I have a camping chair in my classroom, and sometimes on my prep I sit outside with my laptop and work. #sunchat
In reply to
@susankotch, @JanetChowMSc, @timlriley
@MrsTLMarinelli just throw it out there! I wasn’t sure when I first did it but once I told Ss they were doing a project that they are passionate about they gave it wings and it flew! Would I have changed things? Sure, but they took it and made it their own! #sunchat
In reply to
@MrsTLMarinelli, @MrChaceCHS, @MakeThemMastrIt, @MrsTLMarinelli
We created a very easy Google form that, upon submission, sends an email message from one staff member to another, along with a video about the science of kindness & appreciation & a link to send one to someone else who you appreciate or want to know they are special. #sunchat
I am sponsoring students who want to create a Japanese culture club but using a Girl Scout model of sponsorship i.e. I guide them, but it is up to them determine what the club does.
#SunChat
Janet, would you like to offer that gorgeous photo with an inspirational thought for my fall gallery? I love it. Of course, if you have a photo of Vancouver in summer, I am collecting digitals for the summer gallery I am designing. #sunchat
Thanks for all the great ideas and conversation this morning. Have to run my puppy is walking on my keyboard and licking my touch screen. Guess he wants attention. #sunchat
It’s been a great #sunchat y’all, but it’s time for me to go grade essays and make some lesson plans. We’re in week 5 of school so far! Lots of ideas learned today!
We're using #geniushour in place of traditional teacher PD this year. The guiding question is what excites you or breaks your heart about your practice/school/community? I think when teachers follow their passion, they will see the intrinsic benefits for kids as well. #sunchat
