Our mission for our 21st century chat is to create a positive 21st century learning environment for our students by sharing resources and ideas that has worked in our classrooms. Join us every Sunday from 8:00-9:00 PM (EST) on Twitter using the hashtag #21stedchat. All are welcome!
Q1: This year I found out that three of my students are writing books. After that I started to find out many had outside passions. How do you find out your students real passions? #21stedchat
A1: I have found that the easiest way to find out my students' passions is by having a conversation with them about something other than school #21stedchat
A1. By taking the time to build relationships and get to know them and their passions. When I was in the lower grades I liked to eat lunch with them too. #21stedchat
As a parent, I notice what they pursue naturally. What do they talk about? What do they get involved in? If they don’t find their own path, I might help find opportunities related to those things. #21stEdChat A1
Q1: This year I found out that three of my students are writing books. After that I started to find out many had outside passions. How do you find out your students real passions? #21stedchat
A1. By taking the time to build relationships and get to know them and their passions. When I was in the lower grades I liked to eat lunch with them too. #21stedchat
A2: Yes, help them and encourage them. Our goal as teachers is to mold students that are ready to go into the world and without passions they aren't #21stedchat
A2: Find ways for students to blend their passion into the lesson or unit and allow them to use these strengths to demonstrate mastery = win/win #21stedchat
A2: I think it is critical you set aside time in your day or week to let kids explore their #passionprojects A tremendous amount of learning can come from that time if you are guiding the process. #21stedchat
Q2: I think it's important to promote events happening inside the school community so students will take interest in events beyond school. I used to hold a poetry coffee house with my students so they could write and share their own poems with peers over coffee/tea. #21stedchat
Geez, I feel like our freshman’s high school experience so far is completely focused on thinking about the future. So apparently they’ve decided outside passions that lead to careers are very much their business. (And I’m ok with that.) #21stEdChat
I did have one of my students bring in samples for Forensic Science when his pigs went to "market" so to speak. We will be dissecting those after Thanksgiving. #21stedchat
A1: Hello, I am a pre-serivce teacher from Cedarville University, and I think having intentional conversations with students before and after lessons has helped me to get to know them and the interests they have. #21stedchat
Check out this article where this school helps students with passions and experiences. "Parents swear this NYC school is a utopia" https://t.co/39mN7wSMHu via @nypost#21stedchat
Q3: How can content be combined with passions when they are not related? #21stedchat (example: I teach science most passions I have found are not science based.)
I didn’t think so either! Though it’s locked in only to the extent that they want the kids to start having a rough outline of their academic plans for the four years. #21stEdChat
A3. Through PBLs, not all the time are you going to be able to combine all passions in class but you can still listen and learn from their passions. #21stedchat
A4: I have to make sure to give myself boundaries to leave myself time to do things that I enjoy as well, but it is so difficult to not let school get in the way #21stedchat
A3: I agree @5thgradefab, PBL is great and can be modified to fit the content requirements. #authentic and #drivingquestions are imperative to making the activity relevant. It can be done (most of the time) #21stedchat
Reminds me of parent/teacher conferences last week, when I mentioned to our daughter’s science teacher her interest in medicine—more for the helping aspect than the science, but she’s curious in general. So I feel like there’s an in even it’s not a direct interest. #21stEdChat A3
A4: Everything I love , finds its way into the classroom, games, legos, pirates, Computer science, art , acting and more! Teaching is the only thing I’ve found that allows me to explore all those passions with Ss #21stedchat
Foster a culture of exploration even more than achievement. Encourage sharing of outside passions, perhaps online using a common school hashtag, and offline by observing and sometimes joining students in their other endeavors. #21stEdChat A5
A5: By embracing true student-centered learning and an inquiry approach in the classrooms while offering a wide variety of CCAs and sports options for Ss outside the classrooms. #21stedchat
That’s a great idea—and the kind of differentiation that should be afforded any student. It’s about learning and understanding, not the means. #21stEdChat
