Join #ICEilchat for the last Thursday of the month at 8pm CST as we discuss topics on ed tech, collaboration, building a PLN, professional learning and so much more!
We are here with Rushton Hurley, @rushtonh author of “Making your Teaching Something Special: 50 Simple Ways to Become a Better Teacher”. Hello Rushton! #ICEilchat
Hi, everyone! Just coming off a day-long workshop on improving your teaching with lots of ideas related to what's in the book, and it was major fun. Huge fun for me to have this chat today, too. #ICEilchat
As a STEM teacher I'm working very hard to get kids to evaluate both their own work and critique others work constructively. Chapter 15 on maintaininga balance between creating and evaluating really hit home for me #ICEilchat
A1: I always build in options for Ss, accept work up until the last day of the grading term w/o penalty, and allow for retakes. I want Ss to feel success and learn, sometimes it takes longer. Never give EC, just do what original should have been done. #ICEilchat
A1: Is there anything in what you've tried that really stands out? For me, video projects took possibilities with students to another level.
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A1: I'd allow extra credit, but it would be about triple the work that the original assignment would have required. They'd get extra practice, and some incentive not to miss the regular assignments. (I taught Japanese language, for which practice was key.) #ICEilchat
I rarely give paper/pencil and question/answer tests with my students in special education. I try to give choice. Sometimes it is a verbal response, a drawing, a presentation, etc. I would like to try the video projects. #ICEilchat
I've had kids make video commercials of themselves selling their product. For example when they created circuit houses, they became realtors that showed off the best features in their house. #ICEilchat
I do this, as well. I want to know that my students understand the content. I always take late work. I rarely use extra credit, but may now after reading the chapter on it. #ICEilchat
I have no problem w/ teachers giving extra credit, I didn't need/want to create something else, and I accepted late work and retakes/rewrites so it wasn't necessary for Ss. The original work wasn't meant to be busy work, it was something I wanted them to learn. #ICEilchat
Q2: Do you make it too easy for your kids who do what they're supposed to do? Pushing them to try something different can allow them to develop new talents. (from Chapter 13: Give Options) #ICEilchat
Yes! Both their video skills AND their projects got better. We then shared the videos with parents and other students at our STEM Expo using QR codes. Parents loved it! #ICEilchat
A2: I try to entice students to do their best work always. I want them to be proud and we talk about growth mindset. However, there are always students who try to get by with the bare minimum no mater what I do. #ICEilchat
A2: I think we are all guilty in some respect of focusing on the *majority* of students. Those needing enrichment or a challenge are too often written off as “good at what is being taught.” #ICEilchat
Terri and Tonya - this might be an opportunity to have them take some time in class to take so-so or good questions and collaborate on what can make them great.
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A2: It can be. Therefore, I always provided a bonus option on my projects that kids could try. I rarely gave direction on the bonus so that Ss had to problem solve to figure out the solution. It wasn't something that we did together in class. #ICEilchat
A3 Question 4 really hit me. I think I have seen extra credit as a way to bring a grade up rather than an opportunity to enhance their learning. #ICEilchat
A3: In the space of Question 7 on a ready-to-go possibility, we came up with some wonderful writing prompts for this visual and caption today: https://t.co/Dtr1XIz0qc (this is certainly someone to follow on IG) #ICEilchat
A3: What characteristics of extra credit work allow it to genuinely enhance their learning? So often EC is simply busy work that is provided to bring up grades. #ICEilchat
Q4: As always, we want to gather the books, articles, sites, or other resources that you think are useful in addressing this topic. Is there something you can add for us to share with the community? #ICEilchat
A3: Any number of extra credit possibilities could be good for learning; the key is knowing that you're assigning something that you're not requiring everyone to do. It gives you leverage in parent discussions, too. #ICEilchat
A4: To plug the work of my little nonprofit, I'd love for folks to consider having students do video projects that help others in the class, and also serve as entries to our fall contest: https://t.co/wY3QSrIcns#ICEilchat
But don’t stop there! Continue to engage in the exchange of ideas this week in our Discuss section of the #ICEIL Chat Community on the @participate website. Read, drop in, and share with others. #ICEilchat
