Susan from the Jersey Shore - looks like a nice day on tap today, Temps in the upper 40's.. a good day to walk the boardwalk here in Lavallette. #sunchat Looking forward to lots of great chatting!
Good morning everyone! My name is Megan Sweeney. I am currently a sophomore at Stockton University and majoring in early elementary education.This is my first twitter chat ever so I Hope it goes well! #sunchat#GEN2108
Good morning. I'm Cathleen from Virginia. Nice to chat with you. ☺️I teach middle school English and I'm writing a book for Routledge on student empowerment due out next year .👋#sunchat
Good morning friends! Alex, 21st Century Teaching and Learning Coordinator in cold and snowy Freeport, IL! Celebrating day two of my birthday bonanza with my wife. (My birthday was yesterday, hers is tomorrow.) #sunchat
Looking forward to the next hour!, but first I need to refuel after #hacklearning. Back in min.
Karl, 3rd-6th gr ELA specialist from the Jersey shore :)
#sunchat
And a special welcome to all of the education majors joining us from Stockton University! I hope you’ll make it a habit of chatting with us each week! #sunchat
Lots to cover this morning! One aspect that strikes me is related to Social Studies... are we representing all sides of history? Are we American-centric? I think of this in ELA as well as we read about historic events. #sunchat
Morning, #sunchat. I'm Brian. I teach middle-school students English in Colorado. If today's question is, "Are we representing/supporting all of our students?" then my answer is, "Not yet." Work in (perpetual) progress.
Curriculum could be more equitable and diverse if we allowed parents and students a say in what goes in the curriculum. Giving a voice to the people you serve helps open the doors to equity. #sunchat
Always on the back of my mind, am I doing enough to support all the students in my classroom? Am I meeting them all where they need to be? I try each and every day but looking forward to hearing what others do and say to! #sunchat#LUlearns
It’s so easy in history to view everything from the victor’s perspective. It takes extra effort to find resources for anything else. But it’s important to do so! #sunchat
The elementary social studies standards in Illinois start with family and continue each year with a growing awareness of the world around us, culminating in introductory world history by fifth grade. I think it makes sense to start with what we know. #sunchat
Lots to cover this morning! One aspect that strikes me is related to Social Studies... are we representing all sides of history? Are we American-centric? I think of this in ELA as well as we read about historic events. #sunchat
This question has a few layers to it. Do we think about meeting our kids at who they are, or what they need? The answer- aim for both! The key- relationships! #sunchat
This is a powerful statement about choice: let students select + curate the content (which we can certainly help with by providing representative, diverse texts) while we focus on helping them build the skills to be able to use what they've learned. #SunChat
In my World History course, I want kids to enter Am History the next yr knowing it wasnt "poof" Europeans came to America, it was b/c the Ottomans took Constantinople, the Mongols reinvigorated trade, Mansa Musa spread wealth around Med Sea, etc #sunchat
If any of you have / have had @kcalderw for an #edtech class, you have my profound sympathy! ;)
Good news... he's good. REALLY good. If he's teaching it, you are wise to do it.
#sunchat
And a special welcome to all of the education majors joining us from Stockton University! I hope you’ll make it a habit of chatting with us each week! #sunchat
Our student population continues to be more diverse every year. I wish our school offered an elective on other cultures. As a parent i have a lot to learn as well.#sunchat
My fourth grade standards start with settling the colonies and continuing up until the Civil War. We discuss how other countries contributed to the settling of the US. #sunchat
We have to go to job fairs and recruit at colleges that are producing teachers from non-represented cultures in our buildings. We are sometimes afraid to venture out. #sunchat
I’m with @JasonSalhaney on the textbooks in social studies; I’ve yet to find one that truly impressed me. That’s why using primary sources is so key! Hear from those who experienced it, and secure those needed perspectives! #sunchat
I haven’t had the opportunity to teach social studies yet but from my knowledge I feel there truly is a lot in history that students should learn that is avoided. #sunchat
Agreed! I'm sure there are times I've misspoke about a topic because I just didn't know - I'm always trying to learn, but cultures definitely need to be explored further as a curriculum option! #sunchat
Our student population continues to be more diverse every year. I wish our school offered an elective on other cultures. As a parent i have a lot to learn as well.#sunchat
A local author is a Bosnian Refugee and alumni of our HS. I’m trying to get her book on our summer read list and have her speak. Make learning relevant. #sunchat
#Physed, unfortunately, used to cater to those Ss that were more athletically skilled. Thankfully, the focus has shifted to develop physically literate individuals. Still much room to grow to meet the needs of all Ss. #sunchat
Overall, we have to get away from many state assessments which focus on solely knowledge to help with covering topics from multiple perspectives. #sunchat
Q3: #StoriesInEdu Book Study: How have you been moved or impacted by a student or a colleague who did something that inspired or surprised you like the student who contributed the final amount of money in Chapter 1? https://t.co/EyWXyGFrod#sunchat#dogood
For me it is not starting the year with the usual- rules, syllabi, etc. Start things with an effort at getting to know the kids. With my seniors in gov I like to start with a values activity from @ChoicesProgram! Gets the convo going and deepens your knowledge of the Ss #sunchat
Thanks for this lens. I was about to just shout out a NO!! Primarily because curriculum given to teachers at all levels always represents one side only. Most Ts don’t go outside of it to show other representations #sunchat
In ELA, I have used @AlanGratz books about refugees and wars as he gives many POVs in his stories. At least a starting point for 6th graders to understand that we are not the only country out there. Some of those cultures are sitting in my classroom! #sunchat
My 15 yr old is going to attend our new HS that focuses on specific pathways. I’m really tired of trying to get him motivated in classes he has no interest or use for.#sunchat
I agree with you. Bias is easier to weed out when more views are presented. I like @StoryCorps because they allow students to record the stories of people in their life and they upload the stories to the library of Congress. All people need a chance to be heard. #sunchat
Hey, everyone! Jim McClain, 7th grade math teacher in Indiana, and I'll just get the plug out of the way, author of the math graphic novel Solution Squad, which does feature a diverse cast! I've always taught in diverse schools, and I made sure my kids are represented! #sunchat
I am leading an elementary social studies curriculum review committee this year and one of our non-negotiables was for realistic representation of diverse people, rather than tokenism or the 4-in-1 African American woman in a wheelchair who is also a judge. #sunchat
Lots of social studies sidebars. Makes perfect sense, but as an ELA specialist, infusing nonfic / history runs parallel with fic lit. Diversity & inclusion are built through exposure to complex characters in complex environments as well as those examples from real life #sunchat
What you describe, Kevin, recalls what struck me about the book _Sapiens_ I read late last year: history's connective sweep. Power to be tapped in connecting disparate dots that help show stories (plural) of where we've been & possibilities for what's next. #sunchat
if only all educators would adopt as broad a view about diversity as @diversebooks. Check out this organization. It is a great resource for diversity and inclusion. #sunchat#inclusion#diversity
ICYMI — Congratulations to our 2019 Walter Award winners and honorees! To see them being honored during the ceremony in March, you can either RSVP to attend or stay tuned for details on how to stream online: https://t.co/HXy7HH4ylx
And sadly, that's what many people think of #physed today. So many adults have a negative view of physical education. PE has changed for the good, but we've created such a negative perception that we struggle convincing people of the value. #sunchat
This is true. However, sometimes the students don’t know all of their own stories. I was fortune as a black person who had family who told me the stories textbooks did not. As an adult, I’m finding not all families do that or even know. #sunchat
I wrote my own. Since I have the ability to add or subtract based on our classroom activities all reading is for a purpose that will be used in class rather than filling my student's head with info that wont be reinforced by reading or discussion #sunchat
In reply to
@TheKevinMCline, @susankotch, @JasonSalhaney
A1: I haven’t had the opportunity to teach social studies yet but from my knowledge I feel there truly is a lot in history that students should learn that is avoided. #sunchat
Sorry I've been missing, but I had to spend a week in Hawai'i after the unexpected deaths of my aunt and uncle. On my way back, I had an unfortunate 37 hour layover in Los Angeles, so I spent last Sunday at Disneyland!
#sunchat
I feel like the biggest issue we have really pushed into this year is TRAUMA! Being understanding that kids might be acting out because of what they have been through. Any other schools focusing on Trauma? #sunchat
Textbooks can serve as a valuable foundation that gives both a starting point and structure, but if all we use are the textbooks, we will never reach all students all the time. #sunchat
It’s also important to expose Ss to other cultures, people, etc in your classroom if your Ss, like mine, aren’t given opportunities to explore the world or even outside of their small town. Fear comes naturally if you aren’t exposed to it #sunchat
Lots of agreement on the importance of primary sources in social studies; the next step is learning how to use them the right way! You can’t just throw a doc at a kid! #sunchat
Asking them is big especially one on one. As a POC, I do find they tell me more readily. I’ve found Ts who are not of color must show more readiness to accept critique before Ss will open up. They get hurt a lot by white Ts. Please forgive if this sounds harsh. #sunchat
With this comes trying to give Ss something concrete and parallel to their own lives. I'm in a fairly homogeneous #elemed building. Ss read abt others but if I don't connect it to something they know in *their* lives, then I'm failing to make it real and hit my goal. #sunchat
#sunchat I wish we were able to offer more electives in SS (women, religious, minority studies). Unfortunately, funding/testing prohibits many schools from offering.
Ss respond especially to one assignment where we look at Korean War from text of N Korea AND S Korea & compare.
To become a culturally relevant pedagogue, pedagogical preferences have to be (re)conceptualised in a manner that recognises and respects the intricacies of cultural difference. #sunchat
Are you all about understand your students and meeting their social and emotional needs FIRST? #sunchat
Follow us and @classcatalyst for more info: https://t.co/KiDi02igWQ
The movement starts at #CEC2019 w/ 4,500 educators in Indy on Jan 30, led by Carla Tantillo Philibert
Bullying begins at such an early level-- We need to introduce our students, at an early age, to diverse families and gender non-conforming characters. #sunchat
Up to about a decade ago, our MS Social Studies curriculum was 6th-Ancient, 7th Geography, 8th U.S. Glad we were able to create an Early Modern Course in 7th and allow kids to hopefully see history's flow to the present rather than unconnected facts #sunchat
Great connection: StoryCorps as excellent model for mentor texts. which can then become emulation inspiration for sharing, appreciating stories of those in class or school. More resources here: https://t.co/VtOjCBGx4u#sunchat
Sometimes it is not even about the victor’s perspective only. Sometimes POC were victorious but even then the story is distorted. My favorite current misrepresented story is Rosa Parks. #sunchat
Thanks. It's just a few pages each chapter. I worked on it over a summer and my school paid me for the work. It saved them A LOT of money over buying texts. #sunchat
In reply to
@Kortneyholman4, @TheKevinMCline, @susankotch, @JasonSalhaney
In ELA, I struggle to find books with minority protagonists. Since I have to purchase my own classroom library, I really really try to find them, but they are few and far between (and hardly ever written in English). Need to change that! #sunchat
Bullying begins at such an early level-- We need to introduce our students, at an early age, to diverse families and gender non-conforming characters. #sunchat
#sunchat wouldn't it be amazing if students could create curriculum and propose electives for their schools? Passion projects and genius hour open the door, but this would take education to a whole new level. ❤️
‘Culture’ is the fundamental building block of ‘identity’ & developing a strong cultural identity is essential to Ss’ healthy sense of who they are & where they belong. Schools can nurture, celebrate & reinforce the development of students’ unique cultural identit(ies). #sunchat
Have I told you how much I love your shares today! I think even if the curriculum changed, if Ts don’t address their bias we are dead in the water. I think constant training is needed in America even if you live where there is no diversity. #sunchat
That’s true, you’re right. As a student teacher I clung to the textbook and didn’t know about the many other (free) wonderful resources beyond the silly textbook. Now in my own classroom I rarely use it! #sunchat
The most informative discussion I had with a group of four African American boys in my fourth grade class came over a lunch when I asked them what they needed/wanted from me. We learned together after that instead of existing in conflict. #sunchat
At times had the 8th grade US teacher asks me to emphasize some topic a bit better for him so he can run with by allowing kids to see the ramifications of previous history on future events. That is how it must work. #sunchat
There is so many Ts who stick to textbooks though. Although I hate this, I also get it. We have so many inexperienced Ts now and it’s a survival mode for them #sunchat
Sandra Cisneros "House on Mango Street" and "Watsons Go To Birmingham" by Christopher Curtis are good ones.
We need a shared google doc with pdfs/links to good short stories!
#sunchat
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy (CRP)—builds on the understanding that in order to maximise learning opportunities, educators would benefit from gaining knowledge of the cultures represented in their classrooms and translate that knowledge into instructional practice #sunchat
We also ask so much of teachers these days, priorities are made as way of survival in the classroom. How can a district help in that respect? We can't do it all - without resources. Guest speakers? I'd love that. #sunchat
There is so many Ts who stick to textbooks though. Although I hate this, I also get it. We have so many inexperienced Ts now and it’s a survival mode for them #sunchat
The challenge with diversifying staff that we have is lack of applicants. We have positions in our district right now that are still unfilled, despite a wide range of recruitment efforts. Before we can increase diversity in staffing we need diversity in applicants. #sunchat
My students set up the classroom including norms, tools to use, arrangement and consistent learning strategies. It’s called the syllabus project. #sunchat
Jumping in a little late this morning! I think it's part of the educator's job to embrace their student's ethnicity and celebrate it to help foster the trust of other classmates. Doing so becomes a win/win for all! #sunchat
This is great! Getting a book out is a big accomplishment. Congratulations! And, implementing PBL in the math classroom has always been a challenge. Great topic! #sunchat
Sandra Cisneros "House on Mango Street" and "Watsons Go To Birmingham" by Christopher Curtis are good ones.
We need a shared google doc with pdfs/links to good short stories!
#sunchat
Students don’t know what they don’t know, though. I’m all for student voice and choice but we also need experts in the room to guide them. What is the balance? #sunchat
When I student taught, my coopteacher taught 7th Colonial-Civil War, 8th Modern-Civil War. He taught 8th backwards so both would end at Civil War (He did a Living History program). Difficult at 1st but it forced you to pull from the past to understand the present #SunChat
Is there anyone on the chat who works with a diverse teaching staff and your building intentionally works for it to be so? I’ve noticed most schools are staffed primarily with one race. Other races may be support roles primarily. #sunchat
Culture bias happens in math too. I remember a few years ago, we had a test question that talked about a rectangular corral. I asked, "How many of our kids even know what a corral is without any contextual clues at all?" I got glared at by the question writer. #sunchat
Introspection
(1) What culture(s) do I identify with and in what ways was my prior education culturally responsive or not?
(2) When new students come into my classroom, what information or resources do I use to resist making assumptions about them?
#sunchat
My daughter is biracial. In elementary school she attended a school with very little diversity. In 1st grade it occurred to her that there were zero black teachers in her school. To see herself she had to look to the black custodial staff and cafeteria workers. #sunchat
As an elementary teacher time is something I never have! Teaching every subject every day makes me have to prioritize on a daily basis.
Sometimes SS is the least of my worries.
I do love guest speakers and so do my students.#sunchat
I see value in textbooks, though. I’ve seen experienced teachers use “lessons” from TpT or Pinterest that don’t get anywhere near the depth and rigour students need and want and don’t actually result in learning. Quality textbooks help keep us all on track. #sunchat
In reply to
@thnorfar, @JasonSalhaney, @susankotch
G. R. Howard’s (2007) article, aptly titled ‘As diversity grows, so must we’, elucidated how schools that experience rapid demographic shifts can meet the challenge by implementing five phases of professional development.
https://t.co/SbUwttS1fU#sunchat
Families have to be involved. We can guide better when we have an idea of what we are starting with. I like to send home a paper called "In a Million Words or Less" at the start of the year to get caught up on where my students are at. #sunchat
We have a strong LGBTQ+ focus in my Humanities classes, but my students reported that it was the first time they encountered any LGBTQ+ writers, especially LGBTQ+ writers of color. I wrote about the importance of inclusive curriculums recently. #SunChathttps://t.co/M4aJMkzi6U
It wasn’t easy, though, because these boys had experienced a decade of being ignored and harmed by a system that didn’t listen to them. It took time and effort to build trust. Easy? No. Worth it? Absolutely. #sunchat
In reply to
@PMcPeake1, @thnorfar, @Kortneyholman4
It was an actual question. I’m wondering if any teachers are in schools that are pursuing this antibias work and how they are getting teachers on board. #sunchat
They "fight" the Civil War. Learn how to march, made their uniforms & cook in Home for their encampment. They had to write a journal acting out the experience. This site doesnt look updated but a lot of info https://t.co/m1AcsoHhPD#sunchat
As a math teacher, textbooks help ground the lesson. It is a lot for a new teacher to teach math lessons without a text for reference. Use of a variety of books helps that teacher built their own knowledge. I rely on textbooks frequently, but not exclusively, in math. #sunchat
In reply to
@alextvalencic, @thnorfar, @JasonSalhaney, @susankotch
My 1st thought: The 'even if' in Telania's last sentence could be replaced by 'especially.' My 2nd thought: Does my 1st thought reveal implicit bias about less diverse regions of our country? 🤔 #sunchat
Have I told you how much I love your shares today! I think even if the curriculum changed, if Ts don’t address their bias we are dead in the water. I think constant training is needed in America even if you live where there is no diversity. #sunchat
A4: I am not employed yet but I am a student and I can surely tell you over the years through grade school and college I’ve seen about one race This has got to change! #sunchat
I think that's the key in all content areas: use the district-provided materials as your foundation but also use your professional judgement to supplement with high quality, standards aligned resources to meet students' needs. #sunchat
In reply to
@MonicaHousen, @thnorfar, @JasonSalhaney, @susankotch
Supportive leadership is crucial in this endeavor: what is evaluated + tested will be taught, so rwe need to reduce their emphasis. Give teachers room to innovate, make it okay to fail forward + don't build compliance apparatuses that turn teaching into box checking. #SunChat
I agree with this. I've done a heroes banquet every year with my students where they recognize a hero in their life. It checks off the curriculum dot of writing essays, but sitting down with the kids and their heroes at a dinner allows me to truly learn about my kids. #sunchat
In reply to
@thnorfar, @alextvalencic, @Kortneyholman4
In what way? I see it as the WIld West, sometimes a need to defend what we do but a whole lot of freedom thanks to at least in my case not being a testable subject. If my students want to go down a rabbit hole & its a not a frivolous one, we dive in #sunchat
They're a single source + we know the danger of a single story. Provide students with different sources + have them curate, sort + corroborate what's being said in each source to arrive at a viewpoint + then have them write about the process they used to get there. #SunChat
In reply to
@MissWinegar, @alextvalencic, @thnorfar, @JasonSalhaney, @susankotch
Economic diversity should also be considered. When I do a lesson about leaving a tip at a restaurant, many of my kids say that they NEVER go out to eat. That's how I grew up, too. But I show them that it is something they can aspire to, and is within their reach. #sunchat
I taught in a small school in a small town with a population that was all white and all farmers. We had diversity in religion, family structure, politics. I don't believe there are any schools that are completely homogeneous, although the diversity may be less apparent. #sunchat
Economic diversity should also be considered. When I do a lesson about leaving a tip at a restaurant, many of my kids say that they NEVER go out to eat. That's how I grew up, too. But I show them that it is something they can aspire to, and is within their reach. #sunchat
My students know what an ad hominem attack is so its great to hear a student call out another for one before I can take a breath to say it. That's learning #sunchat
In reply to
@Kortneyholman4, @thnorfar, @ballardam
That's one of the reasons we need to reach out and use technology to flipgrid with other cultures and people around the world. Having kids see/talk to kids in different regions allows them to start to see there's more out there than what's sitting at their front door. #sunchat
In reply to
@alextvalencic, @thnorfar, @brianrozinsky
If you want to learn about your kids, give them this writing prompt: "What would you do with one billion dollars?" You will find out whose parents are in jail, who is living in an overcrowded house, who is having trouble paying their bills, etc. Kids will tell you! #sunchat
As others have said, textbooks aren't the problem. Mindset of relying exclusively on single textbook as definitive source for all answers, that's a problem -- 1 akin to consuming results of online searches uncritically or ignoring context/credibility when sifting inputs. #sunchat
In reply to
@MonicaHousen, @alextvalencic, @thnorfar, @JasonSalhaney, @susankotch
A: I love this and totally agree! There are so many different areas that we can start spreading diversity! 🙌 and real life situations are so important. #sunchat
Thank you all for being apart of this week's twitter chat! I enjoyed thinking about how I can continue to build relationships and make sure I am meeting all my students! Have a great week!!! #sunchat#LUlearns
I want to create space for my students to be skeptical, ask questions + challenge texts. The default state for many students is agreement, but we can work with them to develop more critical relationships with texts that move beyond that. #SunChat
In reply to
@NavasFrancesca, @MissWinegar, @alextvalencic, @thnorfar, @JasonSalhaney, @susankotch
For me, its the other way. I work in upper middle class area while Im coming from a blue collar, lower income upbringing. The false notion is that since they have $$$ their lives are easy. Not all have the $$$ you would think & wealth doesnt always mean no heartache #sunchat
Rather than pigeonhole thinking, try using any images > Ask.. Who writes the stories? Who benefits from the stories? Who is missing from the stories? OR Whose voice is missing from the stories? #sunchat
We have extremes, which makes it challenging at times. We have parents dropping their kids off whose cars cost more than other students' houses. Teachers have to be aware that both coexist in the same classroom. #sunchat
The grand deception...
Maligning Melania in the press is intolerance and envy masked as social progressivism.
Attacks on Melania, even by former #FLOTUS MO, should be condemned. Yet somehow the excuse that 45 normalizes bad behavior provides hater cover.
#SundayFutures#Sunchat
Since reckless Fake News has no integrity to clean itself up, it's wonderful to see ppl like @FLOTUS fighting back and suing the ever-living crap out of them...and WINNING! It's only thing to stop these smears. https://t.co/cONwmqXr9t
