Hi everyone! Megan, Digital Skills Teacher & STEM Lab Coordinator, co-founder of #122edchat, Brookfield, IL. Hoping to see #waledchat founder @MrPStrunk here! #makeitreal
I'm here @megan_hacholski! Phil from Northern Virginia jumping in for a bit, while I wait for my wife and her grandparents to set up our game for the evening! I teach 7th grade US History II and am the founder of #waledchat and the Youtube show #Edusations#makeitreal
Samuel from Houston TX, transitioning this year from an Assistant Director for Student Wellness role to an Assistant Principal at @LandrumMS this upcoming year, excited for this next chapter #makeitreal
Hey guys, I'm coming to NY mid September. Any educational conventions/meeetups/coffeedu/etc I van attend? Please mention someone who might know. Thanks! #makeitreal
A1: Academic freedom for students comes somewhat naturally in an inquiry-based environment, as long as it's led with integrity. I make sure my students feel valued - I'm learning right along with them! #makeitreal
A1 In my class, students are asked to unlearn the sit and get and must learn to express their opinions, wishes, and needs. It becomes our culture. #makeitreal
A1: I love encouraging Ss in our Lab to take innovative ideas w/them to their other classes. Game design, movies, music, sketchnoting, etc. There has to be other options for demonstration of understanding than trad. formats. Yes...you have permission! #makeitreal meets #122edchat
Love this, especially as I've been reading School Culture Rewired by @stevegruenert and @ToddWhitaker. So important to be the one to set that standard! #makeitreal
In reply to
@LevineWrites, @stevegruenert, @ToddWhitaker
A1 I like to create menus for my kids to choose how they want to show their learning. We also did a lot of @Flipgrid this year so they could share their voice & have an authentic audience #makeitreal
A1: This year I had a lot of choices and the option to provide their own ideas to represent their understanding. For some it was great and the work was outstanding. Others submitted very low quality stuff. Must fine tune for next year. #MakeItReal
A1 We have created KSHAC (Kids school health advisory councils)/SWAG (Ss Wellness Awareness Groups) at many of our campuses at all levels where they meet to create a healthy & safe environment for their school, families, and community #makeitreal
A1: Rather than always giving them multiple choice assignments, I send my students back into the time periods we learn about, and have them react to situations. Sometimes they are speechwriters for a president, a soldier in the trenches, a protestor, etc. #makeitreal
A1: I try to provide students with the desired learning outcome but their product/process may look different! They give each other feedback through tech too! Genius Hour is a great way to practice this! #makeitreal
A1: I try to provide students with the desired learning outcome but their product/process may look different! They give each other feedback through tech too! Genius Hour is a great way to practice this! #makeitreal
A1: At my high school this year, we will have a 75minute lunch block twice a week that students have no scheduled classes. Instead, they will be able to explore passion projects, build student groups, or simply socialize. #makeitreal
A1: There are lots of times that my instructions take a sharp right turn due to a S question. They also get choices when they choose centers. When we've eared a class party, Ss vote on how we will celebrate. #makeitreal
When it is time to make a decision, we have whole class conversations. I am simply a partner and guide, they make the decisions on how they will learn and prove their learning. More than student voice, student creations! #makeitreal
A1: Having students stand on chairs/ tables when presenting (safely) has really promoted student voice in our roomā breaking the status quo š¬ #makeitreal
Will be working w/some amazing folks this upcoming year w/plans to bring this student voice & choice to the campus of where I will be joining. Itās building #FutureLeaders to design their environments of where they will learn #makeitreal
You're doing amazing, so why the long face? They are just fireworks that you are missing. When you have seen one display, you have seen them all. #zzzzzzzzzz Question 2 launches in ONE minute. #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A1: I try to provide students with the desired learning outcome but their product/process may look different! They give each other feedback through tech too! Genius Hour is a great way to practice this! #makeitreal
A1) This Coming year I want to use blooms to make L/A reflection choice boards for my students to choose their own way to reflect on their reading #MakeItReal
Q2: Having your admin team on your side is essential with regards to academic freedom. How do you make this work in your school? #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A1: LISTEN to them and let them speak! I asked my Ss to tell me things they felt I needed to know about them academically, socially, & emotionally inside and outside of school. Their responses were so genuine that many brought tears to my eyes. #122edchat#MakeItReal
A2: I make sure to share all of my successes so that admin can see that risks are paying off. When things don't go well, I don't hide it - share those learning experiences, too! #makeitreal
A2 It starts with trust. My admin knows that I will do what's best for my kids and create incredible learners. They trust me and let me do my thang! #makeitreal
Q2: Having your admin team on your side is essential with regards to academic freedom. How do you make this work in your school? #makeitreal meets #122edchat
Weāre dubbing it Panther Hour. It will allow students that would otherwise be unable to participate in groups to be active in these groups within the framework of our school day... every teacher will have open doors to house gaming, study halls, social halls, etc... #MakeItReal
A2: My admin embraces technology. It will be my first year of teaching, so I am nervous but also excited. I plan on adapting the curriculum to fit the needs of my Ss. #makeitreal
A2: I have been blessed in my assignments so far that aside from a couple of administrators they have trusted me to try new things. It is hard when an admin is not open to you having freedom, it is heartbreaking when they don't believe students should. #MakeItReal
Q2: Having your admin team on your side is essential with regards to academic freedom. How do you make this work in your school? #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A2: Speaking from the vantage point of experience, it is always best to communicate intent before pioneering. Just in case things don't go as planned, it's not fun to leave admin holding the bag. On the backend, they may be able to improve your ideas! #makeitreal meets #122edchat
My admin is my people. We think through ideas together, poking holes and checking for leaks. I LOVE her! Have a new AP this year, so excited to get to know him as well. #makeitreal
From the sounds of it, it seems like you guys have an incredible learning environment in place last year. Can't wait to see what it looks like moving forward. Take #makeitreal meets #122edchat along on your adventures!
A2: #1 thing I do is talk to them! Admin want to be involved and want you to feel empowered! I make sure to connect with them and have students share their learning outside our room- whether thatās popping into the office, sharing a G. doc #makeitreal
A1: At my high school this year, we will have a 75minute lunch block twice a week that students have no scheduled classes. Instead, they will be able to explore passion projects, build student groups, or simply socialize. #makeitreal
We just got frustrated with the idea that we were handing kids over to full freedom at the collegiate level with having never allowed them as much as a trip to the bathroom without asking permission. We had to hand over some autonomy for our kids sake. #MakeItReal
I'm very lucky! We work extremely well together & have a very trusting relationship built. I'll be devastated if and when we have to separate. Will for sure be blogging more this year sharing the stories. #makeitreal
A2 I will be new to my role this year but each administrator at our campus will serve w/a different PLC that meets weekly to look over the areas/data of Ss need & then work on ways together to #Personalize the learning for #EveryChild so we can meet Ss where they are #makeitreal
A2: @ERobbPrincipal and @KTuttleEDU are big advocates for differentiation. As a result, they have been very encouraging as I have experimented with ways to provide voice and choice to my students. A support admin team makes a HUGE difference in this area! #makeitreal
Hold your horses, Fred Flintstone! It's not quitting time yet. Question 3 will be here in ONE minute! Mr. Slate says, "Back to work." No #yabbadabbadoo. #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A2- I was blessed with incredible admin (I sing praises to everytime I can! @davidbfrench@jehaws Having supportive, encouraging admin make every bit of difference This year I have a new prinicpal @WESWOODCHUX who has already shown so much support! #makeitreal
A2: As an admin, ive adopted the model of starting with YES. If your default mode to teacher and student ideas is YES, you create an environment where its okay to fail AND where a NO is respected as theyāre few and far between #makeitreal
Hold your horses, Fred Flintstone! It's not quitting time yet. Question 3 will be here in ONE minute! Mr. Slate says, "Back to work." No #yabbadabbadoo. #makeitreal meets #122edchat
Q3: Being different is not easy, especially when we are trying to disrupt the status quo! How are you bringing your students and their families along with you on your journey to change the way we do education? How have they responded? #makeitreal meets #122edchat
Love your connection of academic freedom to creating an energetic environment that supports S growth. Admins appreciate when our Ts are able to not only provide voice & choice to Ss, but can show an intentional link to increasing S learning capacity @teaching_power#makeitreal
Admin or Teacher itās all about supporting and building on the strengths and gifts of everyone in the building to help kids be successful #makeitreal
In reply to
@MrPStrunk, @ERobbPrincipal, @KTuttleEDU
A3: I have had an overwhelmingly positive response to the way I run my classroom. I can only hope that I'll have that same response in my new position! #makeitreal
A2: My admin team wants Ts & Ss to succeed. @Thunderbird1240 & @ILThunderbirdAP would step up & help out in rooms, teach lessons, whatever it took to ensure safety & success of everyone involved. When admin is willing to do whatever it takes, so should we. #122edchat#MakeItReal
In reply to
@_on11, @Thunderbird1240, @ILThunderbirdAP
A3: Due to being on Twitter, I learn from amazing teachers on a daily basis. I plan on trying @thegridmethod this year, and I hope that the parents respond well to me due to being a new T. #makeitreal
A3: Ss struggle the most. We have conditioned them to think a certain way and be OK with one or two options. Their look when they find out there are "other options on the menu" is priceless. I have been asked, "I can really do that?" way too often. #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A3 Starts with proving the value of my class. Students and parents know my reputation and are fighting be in THE class. From there, proving through open door REAL learning. #makeitreal
Q3: Being different is not easy, especially when we are trying to disrupt the status quo! How are you bringing your students and their families along with you on your journey to change the way we do education? How have they responded? #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A3: Looking to flip my 6th grade class next year (it will be my first year teaching 6th grade). I'd like to send home Screencasts to families to help explain the units, and let them get to know me as a friendly face and advocate for their child's education. #makeitreal
A3 family engagement is so critical to supporting the #WholeChild which community is part of that equation too, we have committees in our district at the campus level that engages them to be a part of that process & part of the learners journey #makeitreal
Q3: Being different is not easy, especially when we are trying to disrupt the status quo! How are you bringing your students and their families along with you on your journey to change the way we do education? How have they responded? #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A3: 1st round of parent conferences I have big lines. Explaining my thinking and beliefs goes a long way in getting parents onboard. Parents are mostly great. #MakeItReal
Q3: Being different is not easy, especially when we are trying to disrupt the status quo! How are you bringing your students and their families along with you on your journey to change the way we do education? How have they responded? #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A3: Building relationships, early! Parents are their child's first teacher. I treat them as such. We're on the same team-only wanting the best for their child! #makeitreal
A3: Ss struggle the most. We have conditioned them to think a certain way and be OK with one or two options. Their look when they find out there are "other options on the menu" is priceless. I have been asked, "I can really do that?" way too often. #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A3: Iāll never forget the first time someone said to me- āoh you donāt have a traditional classroom, how do your students learn?ā
For back to school night I always have my research/knowledge ready for when parents want to know why their kids arenāt in rows..(contād) #makeitreal
#studentvoice is so important in ELA experience. Encouraging them to express their personal interpretation of the text's meaning provides an opportunity to see their lives through the lense of literature. That requires alot of vulnerability and courage!
#MakeItReal#122edchat
A3: Due to being on Twitter, I learn from amazing teachers on a daily basis. I plan on trying @thegridmethod this year, and I hope that the parents respond well to me due to being a new T. #makeitreal
A3~ home visits, class twitter page, lots of communication at stores, emails, phone calls, texting ~ best year this year due to these efforts~ no surprises as communication was 2wAy & continuous #makeitreal
A3: Last year I facilitated a book club (book to movie adaptations) where parents joined in reading the book with their kids then came to watch the movie - it was awesome to see them enjoy the movie with their Ss! #makeitreal
YES! I love this! @mdeegan122 had an open door policy during the second half of the year through the #observeme movement. Good for you, Megan! #makeitreal meets #122edchat
A3) I love changing the room up, doing missions, creating things like videos. I try to get the Ss involved and have them figure things out together and share with parents on @ClassDojo Inalso use ClassDojo to send hints &riddles for coming lessons to get them talking #makeitreal
A3: (contd) the rest from there is history, because their kids have so much fun learning and WANT to come to school so they start asking about the magic!
I also post on dojo often and ask parents to respond/ interact somehow. I go live once a week for questions! #makeitreal
A3- I worked hard this year to build all relationship! I kept parents in the loop, talking through their frustrations with being 1:1. It was very new to parents and many were uncomfortable with the change! They knew I was in the journey with them! #makeitreal
Just wanted to give a shoutout to @_on11 and @megan_hacholski. They were part of my journey since my beginning, and I truly appreciate them both. #makeitreal
Just wanted to give a shoutout to @_on11 and @megan_hacholski. They were part of my journey since my beginning on Twitter, and I truly appreciate them both. #makeitreal
A3:
I think because I am not traditional core, I have an easier time. I keep communication open. Mostly through email because I can respond and write any time and not in a small window of time. #makeitreal
Another job well done, @megan_hacholski. You da real MVP! Special thanks to @MathDenisNJ for letting us take the #122edchat party to your lawn. Our apologies to your neighbors, #makeitreal. Last, but not least, THANK YOU for making the commitment to chat with us on July 4th! <3
A3: Ask for feedback from Ss & their Ps. This year, I heard āno oneās asked me that beforeā way too many times. I want families to feel welcome & encouraged to be active participants in their childās learning by providing them with opportunities to share. #122edchat#MakeItReal
Thank you so much for an amazing chat! The fireworks show was canceled which allowed me to join this amazing chat. I wouldnāt have traded it for the world. #makeitreal
A3.2
Also, bc we do crazy stuff in drama class, I tell my students to share the craziness, and then back it up with learning that went along with. Parents are just so excited to here that their kids are excited about learning that theyāre on board. #makeitreal
Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for #makeitreal tonight! Join us next Wednesday at 7pm Central as we continue our Summer Book Study of #Culturize with the #122edchat community and superstar @JoyceBronwyn!
Thank you all so much for an awesome chat! Back to blogging I go! Took a break to play with you guys tonight! Have a wonderful evening! Thanks to my old friend and my new one @megan_hacholski for letting me join in! #makeitreal#122edchat
I was pretty real with them in my interview. I spoke from my heart and shared my beliefs. They called right after I walked in the door from the interview and offered me my choice of 3 positions! I'm meeting with the family social worker and my 2 aides next week! #makeitreal
Another job well done, @megan_hacholski. You da real MVP! Special thanks to @MathDenisNJ for letting us take the #122edchat party to your lawn. Our apologies to your neighbors, #makeitreal. Last, but not least, THANK YOU for making the commitment to chat with us on July 4th! <3
So good to be back in conversation with @LevineWrites! He is an incredible dude working with some of the best human beings on Earth -- middle school kids. Fight on! #makeitreal meets #122edchat
Both teachers and administrators must collaborate for one goal: student success. Thankfully, our principal and teachers have a common vision: "student academic achievement and personal enrichment in activities,Ā and student growth as persons of character."š #MakeItReal#122edchat
Q2: Having your admin team on your side is essential with regards to academic freedom. How do you make this work in your school? #makeitreal meets #122edchat
