I'm Anna Baldwin, your moderator for tonight! I teach English and manage grants at Arlee School District on the Flathead Reservation. Happy to be here to help kick off #loveteaching week! #mtedchat
Hi! Andrea from Billings, teach preservice teachers at RMC, provide pd and support for Ts too as director of Alliance for Curriculum Enhancement #MTedchat
A1: Working in a dynamic environment, around people who are always changing creates interesting problems to solve! I #loveteaching because it's challenging. #mtedchat
A1: I used to say the kids but now it's because I understand holistically that public education is the change maker & equalizer in our country & so many have invested in me. I also #loveteaching teachers who are amazing & deserve support! #MTedchat
A1 worked in other capacities (principal, curriculum) but continually missed the classroom and connecting w/ students the way only a teacher can! The ability to really make a difference REALLY happens in the classroom. #MTedchat
A1: Although I'm not in my own classroom, I'm inspired by the creativity and drive my teachers have for supporting learners. Their passion keeps me going! #mtedchat
A1. For me, it’s simply because I want to make a difference. I love my students and I want to create a positive impact on their lives. I want to be their difference maker. #mtedchat
A1 For me teaching truly was/is a calling. When I try to imagine myself not teaching I can’t think of anything I’d rather do. No two days are ever the same. I’m constantly learning and growing both from my PLN and my students. #loveteaching#MTedchat
A1: In my new role as part-time grants manager I get to see other sides of the endeavor, the funding and the behind-the-scenes operations - different, but no less #loveteaching! #mtedchat
A1 The daily buzz of crafting lessons and delivering them, the interaction with a new wave of students each semester, striving to improve my craft. 22 years in and I’m still improving. I #loveteaching#MTedchat#edchat
A1: I love growth. Student growth, teacher growth, my own professional growth. I love how a school community is a network. When healthy, individuals and subgroups have a dynamic synergy that keeps me pushing forward. #mtedchat
Q2: If you are a Montana educator, why do you #loveteaching in Montana? If you’re not, what makes your location special? In other words, what puts your place on the map? #MTedchat#geographyed
A2: Talking with teachers from across the nation has showed me that Montana teachers are lucky - no evaluations tied to pay, no widespread charters sucking away money, no insane testing regime. #loveteaching#mtedchat
#mtedchat I like teaching a mix of ranching kids and kids whose parents commute to Missoula for work. It's hard to say my school is diverse, but it's got that level of diversity at least.
I think some of the most effective teachers were not "good" at school. You are the guardians of the kids like you, the square pegs. Thanks for sticking with it! #mtedchat
A2: It's where I was a student and others invested in me! AND...we are still the last best place. Mostly, it's because of the teachers we have here...when I go to schools in other states I'm floored at how exceptional our T's are! #MTedchat
A2 I get to hear why kids choose to come to MT for college...love those conversations with Ss. Inspired by small class sizes, personalized opportunities, and good people who care. It’s a community/family feel! #MTedchat
A2 I relocated from London to Chicago for love. Left a successful career in teaching behind, started all over again, and it’s been a great ride. The support from my new ‘home town’ allowed me to thrive. Recognized as a TOY was the icing on the cake. #LoveTeaching#MTedchat
Side chat: our priority standards in math this qtr are related to fractions and division. Have a student who aced the protests in both. Any suggestions for extensions/project based lessons he can do? I don’t want to just give busy work. #mtedchat
A2. I teach in a small community in Mississippi. We work very hard towards progress, in spite of state leadership determined to keep us at bottom of lists. The community in which I teach would do anything for the school, students, etc. I like the challenge though. #mtedchat
A2: Montana teachers have a unique perspective on education; one-room schoolhouses, large district meets students living in a rural environment, cow patties in the hallways, wearer of MANY hats. As a virtual coach, I can tell when I am talking to a MT teacher. #mtedchat
You're absolutely right, Anna! I remember thinking to myself that Montana is a great state for education, as I listened to the struggle of other states. Although, I'm starting to see some similar issues surface here too. #mtedchat
A2: Montana has a unique personality. With communities spread across such a large state, each region provides a different experience. My passion is place-based learning. Ss and Ts can learn so much by connecting locally, then expanding globally. #loveteaching#mtedchat
Q2: If you are a Montana educator, why do you #loveteaching in Montana? If you’re not, what makes your location special? In other words, what puts your place on the map? #MTedchat#geographyed
Q2: If you are a Montana educator, why do you #loveteaching in Montana? If you’re not, what makes your location special? In other words, what puts your place on the map? #MTedchat#geographyed
A2. I started my career in AZ. While I worked at an amazing school with amazing educators who helped me grow more than I could have imagined the state& community weren’t supportive of ed. Our pay was frozen for 8 years. That topped with homesickness pushed my move home #mtedchat
In 2015, we lost our school building to a fire. It happened on a Friday and school was to start the next Monday. The community pooled resources, provided monetary and physical support, and school continued without delay. #MTedchat
I wish I had thought of this. One of my fave classes to teach was Montana History because of all the awesome local history and related contemporary issues! #mtedchat
The phrase my parents frequently heard at PT conferences was "She's definitely a dreamer. Focus is an issue." and "We can see her potential, but...". #mtedchat#loveteaching
A2 continued here I have smaller class sizes, more parental support, and an amazing PLN in my #mtedchat people, (and as an added bonus my pay is no longer frozen!)
Creation! Have him create video tutorials or come up with his own word problems and solve them. Google Slides and drawing together with Screencastify would be a great way to extend this students' learning. #MTedchat
Q2: If you are a Montana educator, why do you #loveteaching in Montana? If you’re not, what makes your location special? In other words, what puts your place on the map? #MTedchat#geographyed
A3: My love for teaching is a lot like When Harry Met Sally. I got to know education, then I fell in love with education, and now I'm with education for the long haul! #loveteaching#mtedchat
Ha! I know that one. I also paraphrased the things my classmates said. Switching the order of their words was better than that dreaded silence. #mtedchat
A3: Beauty and the Beast...everyone in my family is in education and it was the LAST thing I was going to do. Luckily the stars crossed and a provisional taught me that I #loveteaching#MTedchat
A3. What about Forrest and Jenny? You fall in love from the beginning. There are a few rough patches and obstacles thrown in. But, in the end, you were destined to be together. Peas and carrots. #MTedchat
A3: Teaching is like The Princess Bride. There’s nothing in the world like it, except for a nice MLT – mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich, where the mutton is nice and lean and the tomato is ripe. #mtedchat
Ha! Is the mutton the lesson plans? The tomatoes are the kids? The lettuce (my least favorite part but still necessary) is the grading? Extend this metaphor for me! #mtedchat
A3 idk what love stories involve people falling in love as children but that’s what mine would be. I clearly remember coming home one day in 1st grade & telling my parents I wanted to be a teacher & then everything I did through hs and college was with that goal in mind #mtedchat
A3: Hmmm.... Love Actually... There are so many storylines that keep bringing me back to why I love teaching and leading. #mtedchat (Not to mention a bit of chaos)
Q4: We #loveteaching! But all love stories have a flaw. What do you wish were just a little different about teaching, to make it an even more perfect union? #MTedchat#sschat#civicsed
A4: Ala the Japanese method of filling flaws with gold, called kintsugi, I would like more time to think and collaborate with my colleagues so we can team up more frequently and productively. #loveteaching#mtedchat
Q4: We #loveteaching! But all love stories have a flaw. What do you wish were just a little different about teaching, to make it an even more perfect union? #MTedchat#sschat#civicsed
A4: I wish: T's had more time to dive into their passions, systems and busses didn't manage schedules of learning, T's were more respected, T's were celebrated, S's were more celebrated. I could go on! #MTedchat
A4 the standardized testing that isn’t developmentally appropriate. My Ss are testing on computers when we don’t have access tech on a daily basis and only spend an hour a week in the lab. I don’t mind accountability but there has to be a better way #mtedchat
A4 The more I travel, the more I hear of teachers who are not supported by administration and who aren’t given regular, quality professional development. This hasn’t been my experience and I know I’m fortunate. #MTedchat
A4: I wish more districts would move away from grading with letter grades and to a mastery or competency based system. As a teacher, I struggled doing blended/personalized learning in an environment constrained by % This is the one thing that fires me up as a parent too #MTedchat
I could not agree more with Ts being celebrated and respected. I also wish as a whole we were more innovative and willing to “move faster” to make a difference for Ss. #mtedchat
A4: Less focus on assessment and more on achievement. We talk a big game but kids still have to write big high stakes tests. That has to go. #mtedchat Oh and HI everyone!
Q4: We #loveteaching! But all love stories have a flaw. What do you wish were just a little different about teaching, to make it an even more perfect union? #MTedchat#sschat#civicsed
A4 also time. I have dreams about teaching in one of those countries where you teach half the time and have more planning and collaboration time. I could be so much more effective given more time during my day to thoughtfully plan #MTedchat
A4: I wish the outside factors that impact what we do would stay a bit more predictable. Esp from the federal and state level. Those factors tend to encourage districts to settle on using ineffective, mediocre canned programs that steal life from learning. #mtedchat
Q4: We #loveteaching! But all love stories have a flaw. What do you wish were just a little different about teaching, to make it an even more perfect union? #MTedchat#sschat#civicsed
Right...in terms of innovating, often I am simply only implying we implement what research suggests as best practices! Sometimes that’s a struggle to get moving! Change is hard! #mtedchat
Q5: All love needs to be nurtured, and #loveteaching is no different. How do you nurture yourself in order to keep your love alive? #MTedchat#earlyed#elemchat
A4 I wish support were more uniform. It varies so much, not only admin to admin, district to district, and state to state, but parent to parent. #mtedchat
A5: If it means staying late to finish all my planning at school, that's how I nurture myself. There's something about leaving plans unfinished that eats at my soul when I'm home! #loveteaching#mtedchat
Q5: All love needs to be nurtured, and #loveteaching is no different. How do you nurture yourself in order to keep your love alive? #MTedchat#earlyed#elemchat
A5 I seek out and take advantage of any good PD I can find. And I get so much from #mtedchat My connections with other passionate educators have kept me nurtured these last two years.
A5 I nurture my love by spending time connecting with and learning from people who challenge and inspire me to be better! Many here tonight included and @surwillg at RMC! #MTedchat
Excellent!! Sometimes I think it helps to have a broad net-network, not just folks in your own building. Wider perspectives can be refreshing! #mtedchat
A5: Lately, by running. I also listen to a LOT of music. Connect with other educators to learn how to mix things up a bit. I don't do well when things become stagnant. #mtedchat
Q5: All love needs to be nurtured, and #loveteaching is no different. How do you nurture yourself in order to keep your love alive? #MTedchat#earlyed#elemchat
A5: I like to take on projects to learn new skills. For instance, I'm currently leading a team on microcredentials research. This type of work excites me! #MTedchat
A5 I try to not bring work home. As much as I have accomplished, none of it is possible without the support of friends & family. I ensure that I make time for them. Coming home to family after a 70 minute commute makes the day worthwhile. #MTedchat#LoveTeaching#lovefamily
A5: I'll be honest: I also nurture my love for teaching by staying away from it, like on weekends and during summers. Need time away. Here's a post I wrote about it. #MTedchathttps://t.co/Suy0ooLJb4
I've gotten better at taking one weekend day most weeks where I don't do anything with school, and usually try to get an evening or two a week where I just be a dad, husband, cook, dogwalker, Magic player, baseball fan, beer drinker, whatever. #mtedchat
Q6: Let’s think #physics for a minute. A boomerang swings back around, right? Who’s a fantastic teacher you’d like to shoutout - show them some #loveteaching boomerang love, and tell us why! #MTedchat#scienceed
Q5: All love needs to be nurtured, and #loveteaching is no different. How do you nurture yourself in order to keep your love alive? #MTedchat#earlyed#elemchat
A6: I want to shoutout Tammy Elser, whose enormous vocabulary and super smart thinking have influenced everything in my career. Like, everything. She's not on twitter but she gets my shoutout anyway! #loveteaching#mtedchat
A6: Shoutout to @janeshawn! She has shown me how to step out of my comfort zone in so many ways, and has been there for me through successes and failures! Thanks Jane!! #mtedchat
A6: Jim Stanicar, two doors down from my room, has been invaluable this year and last. Also thought of a @BealsScience talk earlier today, and he's obviously great. #mtedchat
Q6: Let’s think #physics for a minute. A boomerang swings back around, right? Who’s a fantastic teacher you’d like to shoutout - show them some #loveteaching boomerang love, and tell us why! #MTedchat#scienceed
A6: I had so many amazing T's in Libby as a S and as a starting T. But, my #ShoutOut would go to my Mom @dcrewerts and Dad. Both were my teacher mentors in and outside public education. They are still the best educators in the state! #MTedchat
