I just lied down for the first time today and ohhh crap, it's hard to get up. *Is ready for the barrage of, "You're young/26, you can't have those aching pains already!"* Yeah, well, I was in a bouncy place/park thing all morning.
#WeirdEd Everyone is all over the place with starting. Exciting stuff everywhere!
Ok, so the blog is about unexpected messages and stuff. So tonight will prbably be half real questions and half me trying to whip some unexpected on you.
#WeirdEd Hi everyone! I’m Zack, from DC. No longer in the classroom, spend my days writing curriculum and working with families in the community but the kids i do work with come back in 3 weeks!
#WeirdEd
Q1 How layered are your start-of-the-year activities? Whatchu trying to teach and how? Be specific, this ain't a quiz. Ask each other detail questions. Steal.
#WeirdEd Doooo iiitttt
On the last day of finals senior year in college my best friend and I bought checkered flags and waved them as we turned in our final stuffs
a1 Did a quick build golf-ball-catch-contraption, survival ranking guide to get ss thinking about teamwork and communication. #weirded.
Tomorrow, stealing your handshake idea.
#WeirdEd A1: my start of the school is layered b/c being at the school i'm at we pull from 30+ districts. I need them to start to get to know each other, know me, and know where they're at as freshman. For Jr. and Sr. I do the same just less
A1: I’ll be starting in a new district this year so I want to build community on day one. I have my students plan curriculum and artists to study. And it’s alllll about them. Setting them up to feel that they belong and have a say. While also discussing and making rules #WeirdEd
A1: Well, since I have a full week of the first day of school as a specialist, I cover expectations and all that (ahem) jazz, and then we play music. There's time for review of how we made the music later. #WeirdEd
A1: I try to do procedures and norms embedded within content - it’s important to me to get kids doing music asap so usually we dance and musically share ourselves #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A1 cont'd: I use think pair share, your fav. positive science exp. from the summer. then next class starts with opener of "what is your lab partner's name, fav food, and fav holliday" I have them fill out info sheets and LSI forms too
A1 Fall play takes place in 1993. Started with learning fun 90s teen culture. Next day, talked about how social lives are different now. Next day, how would our characters' stories be different in 2018? #weirded And they thought Saved By the Bell was just for fun.
A1: I'm doing 3 things on the first day this year.
1. Count down to the start of class shouting "Happy New Year"
2. Have Ss come up with 20 words/phrases associated w/ a typical K12 math class.
3. Cup challenge to encourage team building.#WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A1 Sadly, I'll once again begin the year in the ATR (Absentee Teacher Reserve) Pool, a glorified sub. This will likely continue until NYC is sued for age discrimination
A1: we start just before the school year with home visits. No forms, no assessments, just an evening where we meet families where they are and just listen and learn about them. #WeirdEd
We sing about it! Little kids just made up questions and answers, my big kids love the singing game jump in jump out and I let them add facts about themselves #WeirdEd
A1
Principal said first two weeks no academics but work on relationship building. Kids asked for work day 1.
So we are practicing doing work
Eggdrop team work
Reviewing social skills
Working on logic
#WeirdEd
#WeirdEd I work with teachers, so I am stumped at answering. But, I try to focus on relationships by having them get to know each other as well as me. Focus on the story of their name. Have them annotate a poem to discover different parts of text speak to us. Schema theory.
Interest inventories! All of my students answer a questionnaire about themselves, favorite media, quotes, musicians, subjects in school. Favorite projects they have completed (or attempted). Goals they have for the year. I build my curriculum choices around their answers 📣
One activity we always do is write hopes and dreams. Hopes are a goal for the year, dreams are goals for your life. We post them in the room and revisit throughout the year. #WeirdEd
A1
Principal said first two weeks no academics but work on relationship building. Kids asked for work day 1.
So we are practicing doing work
Eggdrop team work
Reviewing social skills
Working on logic
#WeirdEd
That is correct. Since I’m not in the classroom I have a bit more time to work with. Some parents opt to meet somewhere else but for most, we make it to their house. #WeirdEd
I actually got to see Hansom 2(?) summers ago at a midtown concert during one of the morning news shows. That was the only song I knew.
And then I had Famous Dave's BBQ for breakfast #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd Q2 Ok, that stuff was pretty out in the open. What about the layered stuff you do with your kids? Where they are doing one thing but your back there evil laughing as they learn something else
I was glad I was invited in with a gen. ed. teacher to participate in introducing this to our 6th graders. I am already more positive about this year. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd Q2 Ok, that stuff was pretty out in the open. What about the layered stuff you do with your kids? Where they are doing one thing but your back there evil laughing as they learn something else
#WeirdEd i help manage an after school program in the city so we work with kids across different schools. I help develop the curriculum and academic activities the kids do.
#WeirdEd I was so so mean to that band when they were around. Like, not at them, because they were too buy making millions of dollars and traveling the world...but in my little circle of headbanger friends.
A2: I think the project based learning and making are absolutely awesome for layering. Curriculum drives the project but then the "soft skills" are being taught, and life skills are being taught, and most of the time students don't even realize it! #weirded
#WeirdEd Q2 Ok, that stuff was pretty out in the open. What about the layered stuff you do with your kids? Where they are doing one thing but your back there evil laughing as they learn something else
#WeirdEd A2 Sometimes, in workshops, I choose one text that fits the teaching point, but we do more reflection on each teachers' engagement. Many teachers express they could not get into it. Then I delve into the perils of whole class novels. Lightbulbs go off!
#WeirdEd Ok, let's move on to Q3 I guess. And since it's a chat about the unexpected Q3 is...
Aliens land and demand to be taken to your leader. What's your next move?
Apparently, I'm not feeling up to tonight's #WeirdEd
I think I'm finally in "summer break" mode now that my summer job is done.... and school is coming in a week or so.....
A2: I am looking forward to having my kids teach me about clay and ceramics this year. They will learn quickly I am a big old spaz with that media and I think it will go a long way in our relationships. I plan on bringing in my ugly projects. And asking for help #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A2: I'm usually evil laughing when I give them a fake quiz; or use one of my famous interpretations/-isms. but by in large I try not to hide the process
A2 I have my 8th grade theatre kids leading discussions and activities with the 7th graders. They think it's because they're experienced, but I really just want to teach them leadership and confidence while teaching 7th grade trust and confidence. #WeirdEd#differentiation (?)
#WeirdEd Ok, let's move on to Q3 I guess. And since it's a chat about the unexpected Q3 is...
Aliens land and demand to be taken to your leader. What's your next move?
Good night, Chris. I wanted to share these two blog posts with you.
https://t.co/ElT0NEqs92https://t.co/XLm17wWRBF
I realize this is not your situation, but the way we toss people out is disturbing nonetheless. #weirded
#WeirdEd A3 Why is everyone assuming these aliens who were able to get all the way here won't have the tech to figure out who the leaders are on their own? Send them to Merkel and they'll be impressed you choose correctly
#WeirdEd I don't know...do they want rational discourse or are they planning to attack? Just saying, leader is ambiguous as there are multiple levels of government...I'll choose the one that serves my purposes fully.
I am SO late... here’s chocolate cake with extra frosting! I also started a new position this week, and I am beat. I’ll catch up later. #WeirdEd, you are awesome people! 😘
A3 #weirded I bring them to the edu-thought leaders of course. They will know what to do. With enough platitudes they might change their attitudes before we get barbecued. #PlatitudesOnTheBBQ
#WeirdEd A3 Generally, I have the best job because teachers choose to work with me and can vote with their feet. So, even though I consider myself the person who jumps in the lake first to test the water, they lead me. They bring the reality to all my research-based dreams.
A4: they might think we are actually shop class... but yeah, my goal is to be displaying student work as much as possible, updating my newsletter for both schools (which is forwarded to all staff), inviting other classes to collaborate... I’m a big presence. They know. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A4: i hope so. But prob not right away. The blogpost was great about this. the Ss need to know what they are doing and be able to articulate that to admin, but everyone else should be like "wow fun amazing!"
A4 I'm pretty sure they'd say I let the kids run wild. #beinghonest#weirded Some might be more positive - say we do lots of creative projects...? But mostly wild children. (Since when can theatre be taught in energy-less silence, anyway?)
#WeirdEd This happens in my room too! Then they trip over one of my lowered desks and almost fall into three students then land on a beanbag chair, sending little styrofoam beans everywhere.
A4: I think so if they saw the lesson from close up. I like to think that from the hallway it looks and sounds a bit like chaos, but when you zoom in there's real learning, dialogue, and cool shenanigans happening. #WeirdEd
A4 #weirded as a RSP teacher at a push-in model school, teachers be like he better have an IEP or an assessment if he’s not pushing in. Jokes aside, I think it matters more if the kids know why they are doing what they are doing vs a teacher glancing and understanding what’s up.
A4: Yes! I teach in a fishbowl. But we can all do a better job of sharing our awesome. Instagram has been a great way to advertise the cool stuff happening in the library. Nice to see so many Ts using @seesaw for this purpose as well. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd Let's use the second half of this to create Q4.5-
How do we feel about " I think it matters more if the kids know why they are doing what they are doing vs a teacher glancing and understanding what’s up."?
I'm not judging/calling out/whatever. It's a good topic
A4 #weirded as a RSP teacher at a push-in model school, teachers be like he better have an IEP or an assessment if he’s not pushing in. Jokes aside, I think it matters more if the kids know why they are doing what they are doing vs a teacher glancing and understanding what’s up.
A4.5: One million percent. When the adults have no musical background they can't see what we're doing. However, when the kids tell them, they still have no idea. They just smile and nod.
#WeirdEd A4.5: there is a lot being put out about tell the Ss why b/c google tells them so much. This is something I do at the beginning of the year (i have only HS), "I'm not here for me, I have a M.S. in Biology, I'm here for you and your learning." it resonates.
A4.5 I agree the lesson doesn’t have to be obvious at first glance to Ts. I think sometimes it’s ok to let Ss figure out the point themselves too #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd tfw you’re so hyped for chat tonight and then forget it’s chat time until 8 minutes before chat ends. 🤦♂️ In my defense, I was writing a sweet lesson plan on the egg drop lesson that ties in 3D printing.
A4.5: kids, parents, admin, other teachers. This has been the way of things for me for a long time... but everyone has the opportunity to visit the website/ read the newsletter/drop in for a visit to the madness. #WeirdEd
#weirded I am looking into starting an online digital portfolio for students. I went to the twitter quick for @seesaw why do parents and Ss love it? I saw a comment about redtape? any quickhints?
In reply to
@MrsAltham, @TheWeirdTeacher, @Seesaw, @Seesaw
#WeirdEd LAST Q of the night!
Q5
I get to see Slayer tomorrow on their farewell tour. You have a choice- Which band should have already had a farewell tour but hasn't, OR what farewell tour do you wish you could see/have seen?
A1: My opening year activitity is me basically doing a dissertation research project on my 300 students. I survey them, study them and find out what they love, what they hate and what makes them laugh. Know thy kids is my mantra. #WeirdEd
#WeirdEd A3 I’d act like I run the place but never explicitly say that I do so that way I still have an out of they have some custom where they sacrifice the leader but still have an in if they have some strange custom where they give the leader loads of Tootsie Rolls.
Parents get to see a live feed of school. They can comment on their student’s journal. Teachers can push out information. And students can curate their own digital portfolio. It’s slick and easy to use. Follow @pls217 she’s a Seesaw expert! #WeirdEd
In reply to
@_SMasters, @TheWeirdTeacher, @Seesaw, @pls217
I’ve danced around this with generic learning objectives - we might really be targeting one specific thing in a song and I’ll put “perform this song” rather than the actual skill - content rather than skill on the board so Ss can find skill #WeirdEd
