Ben Brazeau host #sstlap Former Social Studies teacher
current K-12 Tech integrator
Green Bay WI
#eduwin will be tomorrow working with science class creating planetary tourism videos
A1 It seems to me that Plato made this very point in his Allegory of the Cave section in The Republic. Probably impossible ever to make the reflection more like the reality. #sstlap
A1 When I spent too much time planning for classroom mgmt and not enough rehearsing the lesson in my mind. Lesson wasn't clear and so mgmt was hard. Take time to rehearse the basics. #sstlap
I agree- I have HS, and sometimes wanted to have kids do things differently so I was flying by the seat of my pants and didn't always have the details- this left things fuzzy for all of us- #sstlap
A1: as I reflected on last year, I decided all of my lessons could be better. I revamped everything this year and I’m having fun. But im definitely going to sit down and change for mcr year as well. #sstlap
Oh rehearsing the lesson- great way to put it- I definitely can relate- I think that was definitely an issue.
I was often figuring out things the night before and didn't have all the details figured out -
#sstlap
A1 When I spent too much time planning for classroom mgmt and not enough rehearsing the lesson in my mind. Lesson wasn't clear and so mgmt was hard. Take time to rehearse the basics. #sstlap
ahh we did that 4 years ago and that was a big change for staff and students- good luck.
We are in the midst of our state battery of tests- can't wait to wrap it up
#sstlap
Last year's Genius Hour project led an entirely different student to create care baskets for the needy at Christmas this year. She was inspired! #sstlap
love the reflection- I was the same way- unfortunately didn't have time to do that for every class, but was always the vision to improve, look at one lesson at a time and made teaching so much better #sstlap
Ticket lessons 1 and a time #tlap
A1: as I reflected on last year, I decided all of my lessons could be better. I revamped everything this year and I’m having fun. But im definitely going to sit down and change for mcr year as well. #sstlap
A2 My social problems class did a service project there was always a positive impact on the community- my hope is that it lasted for ss.
Another was our student loan program for those w/o tech at home- I know this helped some with a sense of equity #sstlap
A2 Did a class debate "Columbus et al v The People where groups of Ss represented various parties from the King & Queen of Spain to the Tainos. After that you heard Ss occasionally chalenging each other and themselves to "think of it from the other side." #sstlap
A2: 1 of my lessons w/biggest ripple effect is that we went on a shape hunt & students now find them ALL the time!! I hope to be able to keep that curiosity & love of learning going for my Ss #sstlap
Nice- yes I did genius hour and it is such a powerful experience- it allowed me to connect to students in a whole new way... glad you are doing it #sstlap
Last year's Genius Hour project led an entirely different student to create care baskets for the needy at Christmas this year. She was inspired! #sstlap
YEs- great point- you don't have to script whole thing, but if you want to generate discussing- plan questions- plan deliver- think through process - etc.
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A3: I try to inspire my Ss to do the impossible through conversations, reflections, sharing my own stories of failure. For example - I tried an Iron Chef lesson today that flopped. I'm going into tomorrow to discuss it and reteach it. #sstlap
A3) Love starting the year with letting them play The Impossible Game. They all want to try it. Makes it easy to later say "you tried impossible then, do it again." #sstlap
A3 I remind students of all tue skills they have learned and explicitly "stack the blocks" for them to show them that they have already done everything that is needed for the task, they just need to put them together. #sstlap
yes- I did a couple of these trials like this- great experience for students to have to justify
also have to remind them it is easy to judge the past -
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A2 Did a class debate "Columbus et al v The People where groups of Ss represented various parties from the King & Queen of Spain to the Tainos. After that you heard Ss occasionally chalenging each other and themselves to "think of it from the other side." #sstlap
Targets/goals are huge! Then you can work with them to create intermediate goals so they can trace the path to the goal. A goal gives Ss vision! #sstlap
A3 wish I could say I inspired them all the time, but I know I had my moments.
Had students present in front of the president of school board, supt. admins. and watched as each one not only reached for the stars, but soared. I got out of their way #sstlap
yes- I did a couple of these trials like this- great experience for students to have to justify
also have to remind them it is easy to judge the past -
#sstlap
A2 Did a class debate "Columbus et al v The People where groups of Ss represented various parties from the King & Queen of Spain to the Tainos. After that you heard Ss occasionally chalenging each other and themselves to "think of it from the other side." #sstlap
A2: I haven't tried it yet but I want to shift into empowerment and do a completely open-ended lesson where students pick their project about westward expansion or the civil war. I'm hoping a lesson like this will inspire them to do thing they didn't think were possible. #sstlap
A3 when I stopped trying to control what or how students demonstrate their learning.
When I gave them choice it was amazing what they accomplished #sstlap
yes- I did a couple of these trials like this- great experience for students to have to justify
also have to remind them it is easy to judge the past -
#sstlap
A2 Did a class debate "Columbus et al v The People where groups of Ss represented various parties from the King & Queen of Spain to the Tainos. After that you heard Ss occasionally chalenging each other and themselves to "think of it from the other side." #sstlap
Deep learning often doesn't have to be demonstrated in a structured way. It shows in every action related to the subject and everyone can see it. The challenge is actually turning that into something you can report! #sstlap
A4: If a conflict arises, I take it on and find a solution. In past years, I would dwell on it, but I can move on. The best thing that helps me is to think of 3 positives from the day or blog my reflections. #sstlap
A4 What helps me move beyond conflict is understanding my relationships. I am a professional, and if that means letting go of what I see as the right outcome to keep the wheels turning towards a larger goal, that is what I do. #sstlap
Deep learning often doesn't have to be demonstrated in a structured way. It shows in every action related to the subject and everyone can see it. The challenge is actually turning that into something you can report! #sstlap
A4: when conflict w/a coworker I get stuck worrying about what I did wrong, so I try to keep a relationship going & fix the issue. With Ss, I like to reflect w/them about how we can avoid the conflict next time #sstlap
Yes! Content is rarely where a student who tries even a little falls down. It is producing something coherent that expresses the content, or manipulating the content, that gets them. #sstlap
Tug of War- I admit i sometimes picked up the rope and engaged in the conflict.
As i focused more on relationships I realized it wasn't about me- let ss process something- talk about it later- and deal with bad behavior not "bad" ss #sstlap
with colleagues, that is definitely a different issue than ss.
I need to address issues and not allow them to build- people can have a bad day- deal with behavior just like we would kids -
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A4: when conflict w/a coworker I get stuck worrying about what I did wrong, so I try to keep a relationship going & fix the issue. With Ss, I like to reflect w/them about how we can avoid the conflict next time #sstlap
Alright you fine feathered learning facilitators, I have a job interview so I need to dip early. It's been real as always. I will see you again next week. #sstlap
Turn it into a mystery. Provide clues about the philosophy, then have students use those clues to figure out the name of the philosopher, and when s/he lived. #sschat#tlap#sstlap#worldgeochat#makeitreal#LearnLAP
Joy is when I see students creating something new- when they get to show off their personality.
For me - when I get to make something that others can use.
And of course laughing with my kiddos #sstlap
A5: I LOVE reading!!! So I’ve shared some of my favorite books w/my Ss! We’ve read Dr. Seuss, Toot & Puddle, Magic Tree House to name a few ❤️📚📚❤️ #sstlap
Alright you fine feathered learning facilitators, I have a job interview so I need to dip early. It's been real as always. I will see you again next week. #sstlap
A5 Aha experiences as I continue to learn new things. I've found the best way to get students to experience similarly is to expose them to familiar things made strange, and strange things made familiar. #sstlap
i like the strange to familiar, etc. it is like revealing a magic trick or the man behind the curtain- those facts/details that can change the way they see something and makes the content matter to them
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A5 Aha experiences as I continue to learn new things. I've found the best way to get students to experience similarly is to expose them to familiar things made strange, and strange things made familiar. #sstlap
A6 my first attempt at Genius hour- fail when ss didn't know what they were passionate about. I learned from it and revised and ss then did some amazing things
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A6: Risks I have taken this year - dressing up as a "guest speaker" - using more choice - I'm going to try an open ended empowerment lesson for the last few weeks of school. #sstlap
A6 my attempt to reproduce a simulation activity I found from Sheg or Zinn and didn't emphasize the planning stage for positions.
Emailed author and got some tips to improve.
Love that I can reach out and people will share #sstlap
A6: I attempted a genius hour this year, but felt like it wasn't good. So I stopped it. After reading #empowermentbook I shouldn't have stopped it. Definitely doing this next year. #sstlap
A6: Risks I have taken this year - dressing up as a "guest speaker" - using more choice - I'm going to try an open ended empowerment lesson for the last few weeks of school. #sstlap
Nice- i had 2, 1 was ready to take over the world the other was content to watch and replicate.
Glad you are willing to share your knowledge and experience - we need great teachers mentoring young teachers #sstlap
