#6thchat is used to chat, collaborate, and grow with other sixth grade educators from around the globe. Each session we discuss a topic voted on by #6thchat participants. It's a great way to help grow your PLN and share ideas with others.
Welcome to #6thchat! Please introduce yourself, where you teach and what subjects! I teach ELA and SS in Lansing, MI. I will be moderating tonight's chat!
A1) I have done gratitude journals in the past and recently read about sending a journal home on a rotational basis where each family will write ideas of what they are grateful for so that we would create a community gratitude journal. Anyone done this before? Thoughts? #6thchat
A1: I don't have much in the way of activities or ideas. The best is to consistently display gratitude and point out students doing it as well
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A2) I do have students work on passion projects/genius hour projects beginning in Jan. In the fall, we focus on examples of curiosity in the texts we read, and I encourage Ss to explore sites like @Wonderopolis#6thchat
A2: I would say I do a lot of modeling here. If I am wondering about something, I mention it. Or I point out something that seems really interesting and look up information if needed. I just like to show them that I am interested in lots of things. #6thchat
We were talking about this today at school (teachers were) and noting how sometimes we "assume" Ss know these basic approaches to learning, but they don't. We need to keep our thinking transparent. I agree. #6thchat
A3) I find this is a hard habit to instill (and to "break" the poor habit of apathy or dependence on others to complete work). I often try to have great examples of Ss in the class who are putting forth the effort so I spotlight students who are working hard. #6thchat
A3: We do try to promote a growth mindset and the idea that the most important thing is to keep trying. I do a lot of praising for hard work and keeping going even when things are difficult. #6thchat
A3: Add effort to rubrics and consistently praise effort. Post great student work in class and online and use it as a motivator. I did this with a S at start of the year based on previous records and it really helped
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A4) Motivation and effort are similar but not exactly the same. I think if you can uncover what "motivates" a student then the "effort" may also increase. I find that student empowerment and student voice/choice typically spur students to be motivated so do this a lot. #6thchat
A4: This is a tough one. A lot of 6th graders are motivated by fun and Fortnite, so it is a matter of finding out what they like through conversations and then trying to work it into their learning #6thchat
A4: I think that very important is to help them see a purpose to what they are doing. If they feel that there is a reason to do something, the motivation will follow. #6thchat
How do you motivate Ss w/Fortnite? Just curious. It does seem to be all they talk about. I'm concerned about how much time they spend on this game vs. reading, etc. #6thchat
Great question...Not entirely sure on that one yet. I did see someone created a Choice Board using Fortnite I think it was linked on @DitchThatTxtbk#6thchat
A4.2: Example, I wanted students to write book reviews & worked out a way to post them on Amazon under a tagline for our class. Day I posted one on Twitter, tagged the author and the author responded, tons more kids submitted reviews! #6thchat
A1. To practice gratitude regularly, it might be nice to provide a student involved/ created bulletin board where students write a "kudos" or "warm and fuzzy" to thank classmates, teachers, etc. I've also seen students make thank-you cards for visitors.
#osussmce#6thchat
A5) There are a lot of games that help improve self-regulation on this site for various ages (and many can be adapted to our age leveled students): https://t.co/xGjVwMdvRQ#6thchat
A5: We are working with students using E+O=R (Event + Response = Outcome). Trying to teach Ss that they are in charge of how they respond and they should make that response something that will get them to the outcome they want. #6thchat
My teaching partner recently had Ss write notes of kindness to one another; they were anonymously written. Each Ss received a name and then simply received the note. They loved it! #6thchat
We use vocabulary as well like "glitch" for those very small disappointing situations, etc. Letting Ss know it's small with correct vocabulary helps, too. #6thchat
I think the "hidden" habits are hard to teach.The "soft skills" are increasingly important for our Ss as they move through school, college & eventually want jobs;soft skills are what sets many people apart. Definitely not easy to consider how to intentional teach. #6thchat
A6) Last year we did the Kindness Project where every day Ss practiced on specific act of kindness. Here's another site with really great ideas that I want to look at more: https://t.co/VwLapnGKOt#6thchat
A6: I think picture books could be a great tool here. Reading stories where characters showed compassion in different situations and then pointing out that they can act the same way in their own lives. #6thchat
A6: I think one good way to teach compassion would be a class service project. It could be run as a PBL to focus on various other skills as well
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Every morning, students work on journals and we're currently moving students to ask questions for classmates who real journals aloud. Engaging students who are curious, but also building discussion skills.
#osussmce#6thchat
A7: Build stamina by working on smaller assignments as you work your way up to bigger ones. Like with writing start with paragraphs and work your way up to large essays
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A7) One of the things I like to do is relate stamina to other activities where I KNOW Ss have stamina like sports and how coaches help players build up their stamina. We talk about the mental race that is required and share ideas on how stamina looks, sounds, etc. #6thchat
A7: I think pumping them up ahead of time to face a tough challenge. Sometimes I tell them that I'm expecting their brains to hurt by the end of the activity. Just so they're ready to keep going when things get tough! #6thchat
As a student-teacher I'm somewhat limited in extrinsic motivators to offer students. One tactic that has been working for me is offering students time to eat in the classroom for lunch on the stipulation they don't lose points for behavior and turn in homework
#osussmce#6thchat
A8) I like to help Ss uncover their interests & passions. I'm always amazed at how many Ss say they don't have hobbies beyond video games, for example. Getting Ss to talk about these often helps other Ss in the class consider what other interests they may have in life. #6thchat
A8: I think another habit that is important to intentionally teach is how to be an effective leader. In a lot of assignments Ss work in groups and need to have the skills to take a leadership role effectively to guide their group to achieve their goals
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A.4 I'm still working to help find motivators for students, so I just try many different motivators with different students to see what "sticks". My students are more extrinsically motivated, but I'm trying to move them to intrinsic motivation.
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A.3: As a student teacher I'm limited in motivators to offer students. One tactic that has been working for me is offering students time to eat in the classroom for lunch on the stipulation they don't lose points for behavior and turn in homework.
#osussmce#6thchat
A.2: Every morning, students work on journals and we're currently moving students to ask questions for classmates who real journals aloud. Engaging students who are curious, but also building discussion skills.
#osussmce#6thchat
A.5: A strategy self-regulation is to start the conversation from the perspective of helping friends. Students might be able to identify first how to help a friend, and teachers can move the discussion to focus on how students might deal with strong emotions.
#osussmce#6thchat
A8: We are currently trying to merge a traditional PBIS model with internally motivated E+R=O language in our 6th grade so I probably won't go throwing anymore systems at my colleagues this week. But I think these are soft skills that we always want to be aware of. #6thchat
