An informal learning community for educators worldwide. Our passion for learning and connected learning experiences help us to improve our teaching practices. #txeduchat features guest moderators every week.
Q1 - It’s #txeduchat time!
Share a little info about your first ride and/or something that you’ll be focusing on this week.
(Bonus points for pictures!)
Hi #txeduchat ! I'm excited to chat about getting our students in the driver's seat.
I drove a gold Pontiac Phoenix off to college. I know you are jealous!
Hi y’all. Elyse checking in from Katy. Special education teacher & student supporter. My first and only ride to this day was a Dodge Ram 1500. I still love my truck! #txeduchat
Ck out the small print in this image: "Student-centered learning is not a light switch we turn on or off; rather, by changing small things . . . we can help students become autonomous, lifelong learners."
#txeduchat
Hello, #txeduchat! I cannot remember the make and model of my first car (just that it was silver and long), but I do remember the first car I drove (I backed my mother's Vega into a tree trying to back it out of the driveway)!
Hi everyone! Angie from Bridgeport here! My first ride was a super cool 4-door Ford Escort - powder blue - similar to the pic! I know you are jealous! By the way...the year was 1988. #txeduchat
Excited to talk about student-centeredness - one of my favorite topics!
A2b - The New Teaching Center defines agency as " the satisfying power to make our own decisions and choices,
take meaningful action,
and see the results in our own development and learning."
Maybe student-centered learning develops student agency?
#txeduchat
A2: S centered learning is concentrated on Ss designing their learning and engaging first hand in the conversation and development of the lesson #txeduchat
A2: Ss centered means our teaching reflects our Ss needs. Tech Integr, Collaboration, Academic Discussion, Morning Meetings, PBL, etc. even if it makes the Ts uncomfortable. #txeduchat
Ck out the small print in this image: "Student-centered learning is not a light switch we turn on or off; rather, by changing small things . . . we can help students become autonomous, lifelong learners."
#txeduchat
I just remembered!! My first vehicle really wasn't a car at all! I learned to drive a tractor when i was about 10 years old and helped on our family farm! #txeduchat
A2 Ss-centered means that teachers relinquish the idea of total control. Ts facilitate but have Ss take ownership of their learning. This week, I’m working with a student to give him a space for his voice. #txeduchat
A2 I think Student-Centered means facilitating student journeys by communicating clear expectations, learning objectives, and optional outlets to create their outcomes! Independent learners have the confidence to experiment without fear of failure! #txeduchat#urockedu
A2: Ss centered means our teaching reflects our Ss needs. Tech Integr, Collaboration, Academic Discussion, Morning Meetings, PBL, etc. even if it makes the Ts uncomfortable. #txeduchat
A2 - Student centered learning is about curiosity, wonder, initiation, and passion driven exploration. It's about positioning kids to become the seekers, doers, and problem solvers! #txeduchat
A3 - Learning on our own is an essential skill for today's workers. If we want our kids to be successful, we must teach them to teach themselves.
#TXEDUCHAT
A2: I think a student-centered classroom has lots of breathing room for students--room to delve more deeply, look at things in a different way, make choices about when and how, organize the space for themselves #txeduchat
A2: we all learn at different paces. A student centered approach allows flexibility to the Ss to progress at various rates as long as there is progress forward #txeduchat
A3: We are creating learners for positions that do not exist today, so we must trust that students will take their skills to new levels with our guidance. #txeduchat
A3: kids want to know the why of everything these days (like it or not) . When they own their data & can see how it benefits them - great things happen. #txeduchat
A2 Student centered learning focuses on authentic, relevant experiences designed to meet our Ss learning needs. These experiences are purposefully planned, as a result of data analysis and T reflection on next steps to help our Ss grow #txeduchat
A3: Relevance! Encouraging students to think beyond the test, worksheet, and classroom! How can you extend and utilize this knowledge outside of school? #realworld#WHY#txeduchat
A3: kids want to know the why of everything these days (like it or not) . When they own their data & can see how it benefits them - great things happen. #txeduchat
A4 - It's easier to sit in the back and let someone else drive than to be behind the wheel. You have to actually stay awake when you are driving.
#txeduchat
A4 Find what they are passionate about. Developing relationships with your Ss involves knowing their interests. Give them opportunities to lead. #txeduchat
A4: You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink it! But you can sure make them thirsty! Build relationships , show them the why & bring the joy back to our profession! #txeduchat
A4 Learning can be intimidating. Model and guide how to problem solve, learn with gusto, and it’s okay to fail. Be the safety net & constant for your students daily. They’re watching. #txeduchat
A4: Ss are more willing to take risks, if WE model that. Failing and getting back up is something Ss need to see. I won't ever expect a Ss to do something, I myself do not do. #leadlearner#txeduchat
As a student, I remember asking “How am I ever going to use this in the real world?!?”
If I didn’t buy in to the purpose compliance was the most engagement you would get out of me. When students drive their own learning, engagement skyrockets bcause they get the “WHY” #txeduchat
A4 Growth mindset responses! Ss might be new to making decisions or taking risks. How we respond to them can go a long way in them taking the wheel. #txeduchat
Howdy #txeduchat from Barbara in Friendswood. A3: THIS, a picture that @gcouros shared when he visited @friendswoodisd to ask: Do we want curiosity or complacency?
A3: when Ss ask me, “is this enough?” I often reply, “you tell me. what do you need to add/delete to get make your point?” They go back to think about it and made adjustments as needed. #txeduchat
A2: centered = meeting the students where THEY are. Ex: create your own hashtag for a class/team debate and tweet during class. "But, phones!!" ... I know, I know. Different convo, different time. :) #TxEduChat
A4 - From a very early age, we must work to build independence and agency within each learner. Teaching them to trust in themselves and celebrating approximations goes a long way! #txeduchat
A4 - It's easier to sit in the back and let someone else drive than to be behind the wheel. You have to actually stay awake when you are driving.
#txeduchat
The wheel is already in their hands... they’re either looking at our GPS for direction or theirs... we can game plan and help read the map, but it needs to be their little red pin st the end #TXEduChat
A4: We have to open up Ss minds to the taking control of their learning part. My 18 year old son has been trained to "do school" really well and sometimes pushes back against me when I make him think! #txeduchat
A4: This is the hard part and the older they get the harder it is bcuz we have trained them to be worksheet machines for so long. #oldhabitsdiehard#txeduchat
A4 I think this is when relationships come into play. When you know your kids, you know how to reach and intrinsically motivate them. It takes work and consistency to build a risk-free environment and it's what's best for students to flourish and grow! #txeduchat
Q4: Students fear failure, and they also don't always know where to get the information they need to learn what they want to learn. That's why it is vitally important for Ts to be part of the Ss "voice and choice" equation. #txeduchat
A4 - From a very early age, we must work to build independence and agency within each learner. Teaching them to trust in themselves and celebrating approximations goes a long way! #txeduchat
A4 I think this is when relationships come into play. When you know your kids, you know how to reach and intrinsically motivate them. It takes work and consistency to build a risk-free environment and it's what's best for students to flourish and grow! #txeduchat
A4: Although it is hard, we have to persevere and push our Ss to think and problem-solve through scaffolding even when they beg us to just give them a worksheet. #txeduchat
A4: sometimes a blank slate is scary, especially in school when they’re used to looking for the one right answer to someone else’s questions. Start with limited options and build their self-efficacy and trust that this “freedom of choice” isn’t a trap. #txeduchat
A5 Choice & Voice in projects, seating arrangements, learning styles, and how their learning looks each and every day. So need to make while others write. #txeduchat
A5 I like using #seesaw with my Ss. They can choose how to demonstrate their learning through pics, audio, text, video, drawing, and appsmashing. #txeduchat
A5: I like to remember that we do not have unlimited voice and choice in the real world, so start small with Ss. Maybe offer 2 or 3 choices, or brainstorm choices with students. Scaffolding choice for Ss is important in the beginning! #txeduchat
A5. I allow my student to lead academic discussions in my class. My 1st graders agree, disagree, add, or justify with their voice. Their voice is important and we have to cultivate that bc our world does the opposite. #txeduchat
A5. I allow my student to lead academic discussions in my class. My 1st graders agree, disagree, add, or justify with their voice. Their voice is important and we have to cultivate that bc our world does the opposite. #txeduchat
A5: Ask. Ss are known to give honest feedback plus I often tell them to please not say what they think I want to hear. They are individuals and their voice is important. #txeduchat
A5: I like to remember that we do not have unlimited voice and choice in the real world, so start small with Ss. Maybe offer 2 or 3 choices, or brainstorm choices with students. Scaffolding choice for Ss is important in the beginning! #txeduchat
A6 Model it! I am posting the books I have read on my wall. Started this month having Ss set their own reading goals for the month of January. #txeduchat
A6 Set Goals with them. Set a class goal as well as individual goals. Give students the power to make their own. Conference with students throughout the week/year to adjust and reach them. #txeduchat
A5: I like to remember that we do not have unlimited voice and choice in the real world, so start small with Ss. Maybe offer 2 or 3 choices, or brainstorm choices with students. Scaffolding choice for Ss is important in the beginning! #txeduchat
#txeduchat A5. Giving choices along the way and by asking reflection questions at the end of a lesson/project to see what could be better in the future.
Q6: I record my lessons. My Ss & I watch them. I call out my weaknesses & give them ways I will get better. My Ss then do the same. They identify something they need to fix & ways they can fix it. If we show them how to, ways to, & then celebrate them. That's success! #txeduchat
A6: Model, model, model! Be transparent about our own goals and our own progress, set class goals, guided reflection questions during PBL, etc. #txeduchat
A6 To help Ss set learning goals, they must first be aware of their current learning status.Once we discuss this with them, we can support them by plotting their learning progression, identifying our approaches of support, & help them choose options to meet their goals #txeduchat
#txeduchat A6. Reflection is important have them record what went well and did not go well and what they could do better next time. Also used data binders when students tracked their own data and had more ownership.
A6: Healthy conversations & knowing that their brains are muscles (growth comes from working through failure) help learns think about weaknesses. We set fluency goals this year- students track their growth with bar graphs while I track on Google. So fun! #txeduchat
#txeduchat A6. Reflection is important have them record what went well and did not go well and what they could do better next time. Also used data binders when students tracked their own data and had more ownership.
That's why I'm falling in love with Ss portfolios, particularly for older students. If they need to show how they've learned linear equations - for example - they provide their own materials to prove their knowledge. Safe and student-driven! #txeduchat
A6: Healthy conversations & knowing that their brains are muscles (growth comes from working through failure) help learns think about weaknesses. We set fluency goals this year- students track their growth with bar graphs while I track on Google. So fun! #txeduchat
A6: @Thrasymachus and I saw an amazing T that had Ss tracking their own data and it turned out to help her have deeper relationships with her Ss by allowing her to know them better. #txeduchat
I nearly had a panic attack looking for bandaids at Walgreens a couple years ago. It took 20 minutes to find simple, one-size, non-medicated bandaids...in a pharmacy! Imagine how our kids feel when we say “pick a topic, any topic.” #txeduchat
That's why I'm falling in love with Ss portfolios, particularly for older students. If they need to show how they've learned linear equations - for example - they provide their own materials to prove their knowledge. Safe and student-driven! #txeduchat
A7: I think we need to work on not being afraid to let Ss get feedback from outside the classroom because authentic real-world feedback is an amazing motivator. #txeduchat
A6: Healthy conversations & knowing that their brains are muscles (growth comes from working through failure) help learns think about weaknesses. We set fluency goals this year- students track their growth with bar graphs while I track on Google. So fun! #txeduchat
A7 Student feedback for teacher can be a great learning opportunity on both sides. Make sure the S understands and has a goal of constructive engagement, not simply criticism. #TxEduChat
Q7: How do we ask Ss for feedback? We listen. I know how my Ss feel by being observant, listening, & asking. I had a Ss have a meltdown & say I was the worst Ts ever. I asked why & I listened. Kids give us feedback daily but we often ignore it. #txeduchat
A7 - That famous Ss question "is this good enough?" drove me nuts as a Ts! Never underestimate the power of authentic feedback from outside your classroom. #txeduchat
LOL! Yes, student portfolios are powerful! But I think teachers need to be convinced to transition away from the traditional grading and assessment model. #txeduchat
A7: I think the start to this is with self-reflection. R our Ss ready 2 honest w/themselves abt their effort & current abilities? Can they make suggestions 4improvements in any area? It’s hard 2accept feedback from others if you can’t admit improvements can be made. #txeduchat
A8: I teach my Ss to track the speaker. It is a strategy I learned from the @ronclarkacademy. It has revolutionized my classroom and the level of focus. We call it actively listening, which there is an awesome @Flocabulary song on! #txeduchat
A8 Relating content to the real world helps hold student attention, and provides the opportunity to ask "what would happen" in a real world setting. #TxEduChat
A8a: Our students all have google accounts, but I confess it's difficult for them to save material regularly when we aren't one to one. My older students saved various assignments through apps to their google accounts and it was great. #txeduchat
#txeduchat A8: For my own children teaching them to write down what needs to be done and when helps us make a plan to get it done. Does not come naturally to them or to most kids.
A8 I work with some pretty tough kiddos. However, we discuss mindset a lot. Focusing on the task, making a plan, and executing are huge. Structure doesn’t have to be complicated. #txeduchat
A8b: Procedures and expectations are so important! During reading/math workshops, my kiddos know our norms. They work around the room, can take brain breaks when they need to, and work at their own pace. I think this helps them all individually stay on task #txeduchat
Want to dig deeper into ways to prepare your students for their future #txeduchat ?
Join the #URockEDU crew in our bookstudy of "The New Pillars of Modern Teaching" by @GAllenTC on Facebook at
https://t.co/JocTJAd7mA
A8: All those good routines to start and end class should still be in place. AND then, I love learning logs for the messy middle of student driving! Helps Ss define steps, know where they left off and what is next to accomplish. #txeduchat
