Here we go... #dojochat starts NOW 🎉 RT to invite your friends and let's chat Balance: how to handle the holiday madness 🤪 Take it away @Mrs2ndGradeWCS 🙌
Hi, my name is Rachel and I'm a preservice teacher from Grove City College in PA. It's my freshman year and I'm majoring in Early Ed. I'm excited to see what amazing things I will learn from everyone. #dojochat
I’m Jenna from San Francisco! I used to teach middle school science (now work at @ClassDojo) and I’m looking forward to going snowboarding in Lake Tahoe ❄️🏂🏽 #dojochat
I’m your #dojochat host for this evening, Caylee. I teach 2nd grade ELA in small town, Ohio. I’m looking forward to a nice relaxing break with my family 💕
Intro: Ms. Calabro, 7th grade Algebra 1 for 2 more weeks and then onto Comp Sci and 12th grade Precalc! Here in NY, and I’m excited to start my second Student Teaching placement in the hs after the new year!
#dojochat
I’m Mollie from New Jersey. I’m an inclusion teacher for a bilingual inclusion kindergarten class. I’m looking forward to doing fun festive activities (going to NY to see the tree and ice skate, things with my family, etc.) #dojochat
A1 I like to make a list of priorities and complete each task before it gets to be overwhelming. This way I still have room for downtime as a student. #dojochat
A1 - Go to sleep earlier :) This gives me more time in the morning to go to yoga, or read, or do whatever relaxes me and gets me in a good headspace before going into work! #dojochat
#A1 I try to focus on making plans so that I know I need to get things done so that I can stick to my plans and have time for myself or to be with others. Sometimes, it’s sporadic to reward myself as well if I know I have a lot to do, I’ll celebrate getting things done #dojochat
A1: Personally, watching one of my tvs I have recorded on my DVR is something small that makes me focus on something other than school/work. Gives me a mental break, and trying to make sure I sleep enough😴 #dojochat
Q1 - Sometimes that also means doing absolutely nothing… binge watching my favorite show and snuggling with my puppy and not being stressed about what else i could be doing #dojochat
it's a @Beachbody program.... 80 days of cardio strength training with minimal equipment. You pay a yearly membership & get the "Netflix of workout videos" #dojochat
#A2 I’ve tried to cut it down to 2-3 days a week, and sometimes Fridays to look over on the weekend. If I’m in the groove for something, I feel like I need to bring it to complete so I know it gets done #dojochat
A2 - Tough to not bring work home if it will result in you having a better peace of mind at work the next day… it’s hard to find the right balance #dojochat
A2: I truly try to leave work at work. There are times when it was a test day that I will bring a stack on the weekend to try to grade...but let’s be honest-they don’t get graded until I take them back to work on Monday 🤷♀️ #dojochat
A1 Honestly, on my calendar I have sweet traditional things scheduled. I just do the best I can getting everything else done - so then I feel like I've earned these others. #dojochat
Q2: This year I vowed to focus on me. Being a 6th year K teacher, I have most of the materials I need, so I have been good at separating home and work so far #dojochat
A2 I don't have experience with this in a career but I imagine I would usually bring work back home to complete that night, I don't like leaving things unfinished. #dojochat
A2: Right now as a student teacher I always bring home my work, I only do my work at home, but I hope to change this in the future!
I don’t have time to plan/create during the school day right now at least.
#dojochat
A2: I try to get as much done in school by coming in an hour early and leaving 30 minutes after the last bell. If I need to take home work, I limit it to only one thing each school night. #dojochat
A2 Yikes! I feel like I'm breaking all the rules! Yes, I bring things home. I don't always get to them... One thing I definitely bring home is: my reflections! Through reflecting on how the day's gone, how a particular engagement went, I plan how we'll go from there. #dojochat
A1: There are many special events and programs in your community during the holiday season. I try make time for myself during this busy time by simply enjoying a Christmas concert or lights display. #dojochat
A3 - Alllllllllll about a to do list. Always have one at work and at home. I also use the reminders app on my phone all the time. "Hey siri, set reminder 4pm Wednesday, #dojochat…."
A3: As I share a living space with my roommate I've noticed how fast things can get messy if we both aren't staying on top of things. I like to pick up after myself after I complete a task, have specific spots for almost everything, and stay on top of my laundry 😅. #dojochat
A3 - Alllllllllll about a to do list. Always have one at work and at home. I also use the reminders app on my phone all the time. "Hey siri, set reminder 4pm Wednesday, #dojochat …."
#A3 I make a lot of lists. I also write out steps (like directions) of what I need to do so I don’t miss parts when I do it. I’ll also write myself little note reminders as well. #dojochat
A3: 1. Create a priority list for each day. 2. Use prep time to actually prep materials for future lessons. 3. Compartmentalize all your paperwork and student work. 4. Keep your classroom materials minimal. 5. Don't seek for perfection! #dojochat
My fiance usually works one weekend day.
The day that he is off we usually go out and do something fun such as pottery painting, Farmers market or going bowling. #dojochat
A3: Being intentional w/my time. On Mondays I prep next Monday and so on. I block out 10 minutes each day to look at data. I use plan time for my “to do” list. Lesson prep is after school. @Wunderlist is a game changer. I also use Google Calendar to block out my time #dojochat
#A4 Last year, I read a grade-appropriate story about each holiday, we watched a grade-appropriate video explaining the holiday (sometimes a cartoon), and then completed an activity about it. I plan on doing something similar this year as well. #dojochat
A4: We do it all! I have an elf, we lit candles for Hannukah, had a school wide Diwali celebration, and I invite parents to read for the kids about their traditions. #dojochat
A4: I’ve got an elf on the shelf (helps with December behavior 😱). My partner teacher does “Globe Trot Scott” during social studies to teach about holidays around the world #dojochat
A4: Pick a common theme for the holidays that many of your students celebrate. Try to avoid focusing on specific holidays. Many holidays are centered on renewal, gratitude, and hope. #dojochat
A3 Besides believing in the power of sticky-notes, I take photos & jot notes on my phone. When Ss share powerful info in our logs & charts, I jot their names beside it. I ask K's to take notes for me. Prob our best, most important lrng, comes from the kids themselves.
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A5: I still stick the curriculum, but I find ways to incorporate the holiday madness-like when teaching expository writing we write “How to build a snowman”. It’s all about #balance 😉 ☃️ #dojochat
A4: I don’t have my own classroom yet, but oneday when I do I hope that I can learn about my students’ cultures and incorporate them into my math problems! So far I use what I know about their social lives to engage them! #dojochat
I teach at an intermediate school in WV. The local high school students, including foreign exchange students, teach about Christmas Around the World. It’s an all day station event, and the kids love it! #dojochat
A5 - I always loved this time of year in the classroom. You’re a few months in, starting to feel a bit more like family, so the holidays can really bring a class together :) #dojochat
A5: It’s been a weird season with being a full time student teacher and grad school so I haven’t been able to feel or get really into the holiday spirit. Next year will be different though! #dojochat
A5: Although I follow a structured direct instruction program for my unique learners classroom, I try to get them engaged in seasonal crafts and holiday-themed center activities. #dojochat
OOoo good question! A6 - I always got things ready before break. Wanted to soak in every second of my freedom!! Now I don’t have breaks…. blergh #dojochat
#A6 I really try to get things done ahead of time so that it is prepped. If I see something over break or think of it, I'll do it then so I don't forget. I don't like to save it because I want it to get done and know it was done so it's prepared ready to use #dojochat
A6: I'm definitely the type to try to do things before break, if something doesn't get done before break then it's not getting looked at again until the day before break is over, sadly. A habit I will surely need to break! #dojochat
A3 - I make lists on sticky notes and keep them on my MacBook. I also have a planner. I went paperless this year, so making online folders for all my Edocuments was essential. It’s so easy to locate what I need now, and it eliminated so much wasted space in my room. #dojochat
A6- I find it difficult to stop working. I will create most of my lesson plans before break, but I’ll continue to create new things over the break too. #dojochat
Grateful that I finally got to participate in a chat and it was a #dojochat. Great to share my thoughts and read the thoughts of other educators. Definitely gained some great ideas that I could implement with my students!
A6: I try to get things done before break. It would be difficult to enjoy the holiday break if you have to worry about things that you need to do when you get back to school. #dojochat
A6: the week back to school will be planned, materials prepped, and ready to go. Over break I will do passion projects that I have put off. Basically creating resources that I want to use, exploring tech, and reading. #dojochat