#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! I'm Kristin and teach ELA and SS in Lansing, MI. I will be moderating tonight's chat. Please introduce yourself and what you teach!
Hello #6thchat ! My name is Lauren and I am a second year elementary education student at the University of Regina! First time here but happy to be joining!
A1) I have personally used emoji's, bitmojis, memes, snapchat (a little), instagram (a little), twitter, FB, pinterest, & YouTube. I have used these sparingly in the classroom & eager to gather some ideas here tonight. #6thchat
A1: I use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (obviously). I have struggled with how to use these effectively with students since technically they are a bit young to have them. Some parents don't allow so I don't want kids to feel left out. Using more for networking. #6thchat
A1: I am familiar with Snachat, memes, emojis, youtube, twitter, instagram, memes, and bitmojis. Students have shown me some singing app I can not recall. My goal this summer is to explore FB for a teaching purpose. #6thchat
A1: I have seen/experienced the use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and also emojis/bitmojis! I've been curious as to how snapchat can be used effectively in the education field..any input? #6thchat
I know many Ts use "classroom" accounts. When I use Twitter, I have a class Twitter handle, and Ss collaborate to tweet out ideas, ask Qs, etc. Did with GRA. #6thchat
I do have a separate Twitter account, but at my school, Twitter does not seem to be at all popular. And a good amount of parents still don't allow their 6th graders to have social media. #6thchat
A2) Use emojis in exit ticket for Ss to share their level of understanding of content; Ss design new emojis to represent their independent books; Use in community meetings to have Ss share how they feel about a topic or idea. #6thchat
We have a #6thchat group for students that we have used to share poetry or resources/ideas for Global Read Aloud. It is #6connect and this lets our students connect.A couple of years ago we used it more than last year. Depends on our Ts.
A2: I really wanted emoji stamps. Does anyone know if they exist? I had an idea about having students do a journal each day and start with an emoji and then expand on that. Haven't done it yet though. #6thchat
A1: I use Facebook for my personal shenanigans (mainly of my 3 kids) and I use Twitter. Only use Instagram so 1, I know what the ss are taking about and 2, so I can see what some of my friends are up to that don’t have FB. Our district lawyer said not to Snapchat. #6thchat
Are those private (so that only students/parents can see)? I was struggling with this because I wanted my students to be able to interact with authors via Twitter, but ran into issues with the district not having a clear policy about posting images. #6thchat
For example I wanted to tweet a picture of a kid reading a book and tag the author, but was told to wait until there is a clear policy in place... I'm still waiting. #6thchat
A3) I learned how to make memes with @FlutterTech in Colorado. So fun. I think Ss would have fun making memes to share a memorable idea in reading, practice grammar concepts, use new vocabulary making memes. #6thchat
A3: I know my students love memes! I’ve used a few to give life to assignment sheets! Harry Potter memes are always relevant! I would love to find more ways to include them though! Maybe have students create their own? #6thChat
Interesting! Lawyer said this due to? Was it in regards to snapping w/ students directly? I wouldn't do that. I like the booksnaps idea. I know Ts who use a class account for this tho. #6thchat
A3: I have a couple that I made into mini-posters, but I haven't used them much in the classroom. I feel like there would need to be a lot of teaching around how not to select things that end up being racist/sexist/etc. #6thchat
A3 Memes are short and sweet and combine text and a visual so challenging kids to show contrasts and contradictions they notice about ANYTHING plays right into this medium. It lets them play with words which always wins and make thinking clear by adding a pic. WIN! #6thchat
That was my thought. Did you make your own media release form or just what the school has on file? This was what I was trying to get clarified and never did! #6thchat
A2 We have students write an argument for the creation of a new emoji they think the Unicode Consortium should add; Emojis are also powerful for responding to reading, "grading" character traits on a character report cards; any way students want to communicate #6thchat
Do you know how to get them to create their own? I mean the logistics of making it look like a meme? Maybe something else we can try out with book club kids... #6thchat
Great idea Stacey. I could see this being a great persuasive writing piece or an argumentative piece against the three Top emoji's created by the class. #6thchat
I have posted a couple of those and didn't have problems, but I think it's pretty powerful for the author to really see a student looking excited about their book! #6thchat
A2: as a way to gauge how ss are feeling about their learning. They could wear it as a mask!!! A flip book of emojis that they could select and then hold up! #6thchat
A4) I just started using Instagram; I'm interested in how you might use it in the classroom. I found this resource with ideas that I thought were good. I like the idea of showcasing student work. https://t.co/9fhW3YGh4G#6thchat
A4: I had Ss find examples of concepts discussed in class and post them with a class hashtag. Then I would go on my teacher account and we would explore their findings and have discussion around the pics. #6thchat
A4: Technically Cheating, but I have the students create an Instagram Account (on paper, not using the actual program) for famous historical or literary figures. #6thchat
A4: For me, instagram has always been more of a personal thing but i would love to hear about the ways it can be integrated into the classroom! #6thchat
A4: Right now I only have one Instagram. It often has pictures of my cat or books (or cat with books). When I'm traveling it has vacation pictures. So it's mixed. I invited kids to follow me over the summer, so it's kind of a combination right now. #6thchat
A4 This year some students posted video book reviews on Insta. It's a great forum for a story with visuals. It's a wonderful archive and can really showcase what kids are doing in class in the same way a class website does! #6thchat
I did this with Facebook templates on G-Slides as a reading assignment. Ss created profiles and created conversations they would have between other key players in the stories. #6thchat
A4: I would love to use Instagram to share what students are reading or to promote new materials/programs in the library! Don’t quite know how to get it started though. #6thChat
A5) I use Snapchat for fun with friends and family, but haven't used it in the classroom. Thinking it would be great to use as #booksnaps. @jmattmiller has great ideas here that I am also perusing. https://t.co/gTO2JTWzCi#6thchat
A4/5: after our lawyer gave us a talk, I’m pretty much afraid to do anything except for Twitter. Can’t wait to read your responses, though. I’ll just be here, lurking... #6thchat
A5) #6thchat I have not used snapchat at all but I agree that the kids think FB is for old people. Just wondering about monitoring their conversations.
I was at a conference and they said FB is the mom jeans of social media, twitter is where educators are and Instagram and Snapchat is where our Ss are #6thchat
A5: Looking to see what others say about this. I have stayed away just because the premise of Snapchat seems so sketchy. But that's probably just the old person in me coming out... #6thchat
A4. I post content to my school’s Instagram account. We use it as a way to broadcast the cool happenings of the school. You can check it out on IG, mecme_school 🍍#6thchat
A6) I had Ss make avatars of themselves as "future" accomplished writers; Ss had to write author blurbs of themselves, complete with names of books they would write in the future. Ss studied author blurbs first to identify format prior to writing. #6thchat
I'm thinking I would not actually have Ss posting on their own accounts or communicating in that way. They could follow the class account, but then you would NOT follow them back. #6thchat
A6: I have a class Facebookpage that I share events and pics with Ps. Ss are in charge of posting as a role in my class. I have Ps sign a permission slip to post pics of Ss to cover myself. #6thchat
A6: I have had students create a playlist using Spotify for a novel we have read. Students select 5 songs that best represent some aspect of the novel and they write explanation paragraphs explaining why it connects to the novel. #6thchat
Great idea! I heard at a conference about other Ts using terms like "Playlist" for work lists, etc. Even integrating the vocabulary can engage our Ss. Love this idea with spotify. #6thchat
A6: I have had students create a playlist using Spotify for a novel we have read. Students select 5 songs that best represent some aspect of the novel and they write explanation paragraphs explaining why it connects to the novel. #6thchat
I agree with this. But also think if we go to those last two and invade them, the students will just go somewhere else. Lol! I think key is to use them and invite students to watch. Lure them in like little animals... #6thchat
A7) Need to intentionally teach digital literacy. I once read a line about how you wouldn't hand a teen keys to a car w/o driving lessons; Must help Ss make responsible choices and keep Ps informed too. #6thchat
A6: Our LMS (Schoology) has some features, but they aren't super engaging for kids in a cool way. I have thought about having a tag for my Amazon account that is my classroom name so I can post student book reviews (like "Alex G. from Ms. Sauer's class") #6thchat
A7: Make posting about the classroom curriculum and events and nothing more. Moderate comments so the digital classroom is as safe as the physical classroom. Never engage in individual Ss or behavior/achievement via SM. #6thchat
A7:Make sure that you are following school procedures. With school accounts (such as instagram, twitter, etc) not following our Ss and/or Ps so you they can't message you and put you in a difficult situation #6thchat
A7 Families need to understand your purpose and trust that your are teaching responsible social media usage and digital citizenship along the way. I agree with @gcouros, they are going to be in social media waters w or w/out us. Might as well teach them to swim! #6thchat
A7: Make posting about the classroom curriculum and events and nothing more. Moderate comments so the digital classroom is as safe as the physical classroom. Never engage in individual Ss or behavior/achievement via SM. #6thchat
A7:Make sure that you are following school procedures. With school accounts (such as instagram, twitter, etc) not following our Ss and/or Ps so you they can't message you and put you in a difficult situation #6thchat
A7: For 6th graders especially, they aren't technically old enough to have accounts on most platforms and some parents don't allow it. I think we need to be careful not to be doing something that leaves a chunk of students out. #6thchat
A7 Families need to understand your purpose and trust that your are teaching responsible social media usage and digital citizenship along the way. I agree with @gcouros, they are going to be in social media waters w or w/out us. Might as well teach them to swim! #6thchat
A8) Lots! Particularly Instagram and Snapchat for the classroom. I also want to use memes this year in the classroom. Very excited to try these engaging pop culture activities. #6thchat
A7: With posting pictures, I also worry that students will capture pictures and use them to make fun of their classmates. Middle school students aren't always very nice... not to mention legal issues around privacy and copyright. #6thchat
Agree...I have Ss post twitter recommendations on post it notes, and then I use our class account to tweet these out. Did less last year, and more the year before. They can learn by watching appropriate use through a class account. #6thchat
#6thchat A8) I definitely want to try adding memes in the classroom and renaming things like "Playlists" where I can add an element of pop culture and fun.
A8: I am going to be committed to pinning down our district policy on posting things so that I can use Twitter to communicate to authors that we are loving their books. #6thchat
A8 Really want to see #6thconnect unite our students so ramping up with some more personal touches first before Twitter would be awesome! Then, book snaps, Our class Insta account to tell our class story. In a nutshell, CONNECTING to each other and our world! #6thchat
Yes, must be careful with pics. I usually don't permit face shots of any kind. Usually profile, or shots of Ss working on something (hands, etc). #6thchat
Alice Keller has a Google Sheet that can be used to moderate what gets sent out from the class Twitter page. I’m sure if you searched for it you could explore that option. #6thchat
Oh my gosh! The time has gone! Thanks for participating. Next week will be a week of slowchat questions with the holidays! So, no #6thchat in the evening, but look for Qs to be tweeted out daily to respond to! :) #6thchat
