#DITCHbook was created by Ditch That Textbook author Matt Miller. The chat focuses on innovative teaching ideas and disrupting standard textbook education.
Derrick from @BC_Schools/@HMSstangs in East TN. I teach history, I’m a tech coach, and novice podcaster for @TopTennTeaching. I love #DitchBook chats and can’t wait for tonight’s conversation!
#ditchbook chat is starting now!
Want to make a change in your school's culture? We'll be discussing that for the next 30 minutes! Quick with lots of ideas.
A1: One in which the environment of the school the second you walk in feels positive & like somewhere welcoming. All stakeholders are given value & allowed to take risks, fail, & grow without fear. Where Ss are key voices in their learning. #Ditchbook
A1: I define a healthy school culture where everyone is accepted, ideas are shared, and there is just the positive vibe you feel in the halls you walk. #DitchBook
A1: A culture built on positivity where there's a strong working relationship between administration and staff, which then trickles down to staff-students. Our school is well on its way to this. #ditchbook
A1: Healthy school culture:
Students, teachers and school leaders are in sync on their mission.
They're doing work that they feel is important.
They feel respected, appreciated and safe.
#ditchbook
A1: A positive school culture has Ss and staff happy to be there, working together, striving to empower all as learners. Where Ss are busting down doors to get in not out. #DitchBook#LeadLAP#Culturize
A1: The physical environment must allow Ss to feel safe & that learning is supported. The school must foster positive interaction among Ss, Ts, & the larger community. Ss must feel emotionally supported & academic environment must be conducive to learning for ALL Ss #DitchBook
A1 A healthy school culture is welcoming of all people and ideas. Ss and Ts are encouraged to #failforward and take risks. All stakeholders have voice and choice and active engagement in their learning! #ditchbook
A1 growth mindset for S and T, all T and staff working together with collective goal of helping S, positive relationships with students and other staff #ditchbook
A1: What silent messages do our hallways send about school culture? => Is advocacy for Ts, Ss and families apparent? Are teachers and students feeling empowered to be part of the process, to take risks and foster growth? #ditchbook
A1: Positive school culture is flet in everything, and based on relationships between admin and teacher, Admin & students and of course teachers & students. New ideas are encouraged from all 3
#ditchbook
A1: A culture built on positivity where there's a strong working relationship between administration and staff, which then trickles down to staff-students. Our school is well on its way to this. #ditchbook
Krista from SE Michigan trying to be a part of an entire chat tonight! 5th grade teacher FINALLY on Spring Break, after the week I’ve had! Looking forward to positive connections tonight! #ditchbook
A1: healthy school culture:
To me, it means staff and students feeling safe to take risks and make mistakes, it means feeling respected and appreciated, and it means everyone working and collaborating together to a common goal.
#DitchBook
A2: When you are allowed to take-risks it fosters growth and innovation in that setting. You are free to think and try things outside of the box. Which also models this to students. #ditchbook
A1 - A place where all individuals feel safe, welcome, respected and valued as people. Also, having the ability to share opinions and ideas without any fear of blowback. #ditchbook
A2: Healthy school cultures allow for failure and experimentation (by both Ss and Ts) – each of which are essential in an innovative school culture. #DitchBook
MISSION: this is a key piece, isn't it. And it must be clearly articulated for all stakeholders so that together a staff (and students) can make change. #ditchbook
A1: Healthy school culture:
Students, teachers and school leaders are in sync on their mission.
They're doing work that they feel is important.
They feel respected, appreciated and safe.
#ditchbook
A2: When stakeholders in a school feel safe, supported, and when interaction is fostered and the environment is conducive to learning… the culture lends itself to try new things. People in the school feel comfortable taking chances to grow. #ditchbook
A2: people are allowed to try new things whether they are successful or not. It’s nice to have support when things work and even when they don’t! #ditchbook
A2: The healthy school culture supports students in every part of their learning and supporting them where necessary, pushing them to be their best #ditchbook
A2: Healthy school cultures recognize that failure is part of the development of a teacher. They emphasize the importance of trust which facilitates a comfortability to innovate #ditchbook
A2: I think a healthy school culture allows Ts to try new things with their Ss without the fear of being judged. They’ll have a solid support group if something doesn’t go well #ditchbook
A2 if you have a healthy school culture you’ll have a growth mindset where Ts and Ss aren’t afraid to take risks or fail which are important traits when creating an innovative culture #ditchbook
A2: Positive school cultures have trust---Trust leads to risk-taking & reduced fear of failure---Less fear shows learning as a growth process, where failure and overcoming that failure is expected. #ditchbook
A2: A healthy school culture allows for Ss and Ts both to try, fail, and try again because the environment embraces failing as part of the learning process. #DitchBook
A2 - Great culture drives innovation. People who feel respected and valued are apt to be risk takers and push others to do so as well. Pyramid influence. #ditchbook
A2: This can lead to trust among admin, staff, and students. If they all feel valuable, they're more likely to take risks and be innovative. #ditchbook
A1: What silent messages do our hallways send about school culture? => Is advocacy for Ts, Ss and families apparent? Are teachers and students feeling empowered to be part of the process, to take risks and foster growth? #ditchbook
A2. Though I’d love to stay and chat part of a healthy school culture means admitting when u need to take care of u. And it’s ok to do that. So if someone wants to try some innovative practices they should feel free to do so and experiment. Why not? #ditchbook
Healthy school cultures are ones with authentic collaboration around how to increase learner capacity, how to make school a place learners of all ages want to be, and how to cause learning. #Ditchbook
School culture and workplace culture go hand in hand; neither of these cultures can be innovative without a healthy setting to flourish in. Innovation comes from creativity and creativity is born from healthy culture. #ditchbook
A1) All are Welcome to their ideas and everyone is invested in doing what’s best for all students. Schools that take stock in their students and support one another go far. #ditchbook
A2: A positive school culture creates academic safety that breeds innovation => creates an environment where people seek the "truth" over validation and being right #ditchbook
A2: Healthy school culture is based on trust between, admin, Ts, Ss and Ps. And when you have trust you can take risks and get support to try to new things. People feel comfortable to share failures and successes
#ditchbook
a1) I dream of a space where teachers r given freedom to break away from management pedagogies/EVAAS/standardized curriculum and become who they are -- transformational intellectuals @HenryGiroux#ditchbook
A2 When a school's culture is healthy, Ts and Ss feel empowered to take risks in their learning. When we push ourselves out of our comfort zones, deep learning and growth happens. #ditchbook
Q3 Not all "traditional" practices are bad practices. How do we DITCH the ones that are and incorporate better practices into today's learning? @AnneKamper#ditchbook
A2) If staff feels welcome, wanted, and most importantly supported then they will feel comfortable with taking risks, trying new things, and changing the norm of their classroom or the building #ditchbook
A2: Innovators are risk takers.
Put simply, when you don't feel you can take risks, you don't innovate. That's why school culture is essential.
#Ditchbook
Culture is a really an actively used word in education. For good reason, no school can truly provide the best education without a culture that promotes idealism, positivity and a love of learning. #ditchbook
A3: Constantly monitor and adjust those practices to ensure they are still working and charting you on the right course. If growth is not happening or you start to regress it may be time to "DITCH" that and try new! #Ditchbook
A3: Run practices through @Wes_Kieschnick’s Goal>Strategy>Tool Paradigm
Goal- The RESULT you want to achieve.
Strategy - The plan for HOW you will achieve this goal.
Tools - WHAT you will use and apply to achieve the goal associated with the strategy. #ditchbook#boldschool
A3: If what you're doing doesn't promote S engagement and learning, then DITCH it. Be creative and find a new way. T decision-making should be less focused on using cool tools/tech and more about what S learning and doing. #DitchBook
A3: The ineffective traditional practices are the ones that don't move the needle for learning as much as they did.
When they get diminishing returns, it's time to reexamine them.
#Ditchbook
A3: I think some of this comes through the openness of Ts to share what works and the willingness to admit when we're stuck in practices that don't (not easy) #DitchBook
A3 KNOWLEDGE: know the reasons/evidence for each practice in your classroom. If you can explain the reasons behind the practice and support it with research or evidence awesome. If not, ditch it and find something that does work. #DitchBook
A2: Positive school cultures have trust---Trust leads to risk-taking & reduced fear of failure---Less fear shows learning as a growth process, where failure and overcoming that failure is expected. #ditchbook
A3) Knowinf what works for your kids and just being willing to try something new that might be more effective. We have to also be willing to ask for help and grow as teachers. #ditchbook
A3: Spring cleaning isn't just for homes & garages! While we clean out our rooms at the end of the year & beginning of year, we should broom the ineffective practices too! @JoyKirr#DitchBook#ShiftThis
Q3 Not all "traditional" practices are bad practices. How do we DITCH the ones that are and incorporate better practices into today's learning? @AnneKamper#ditchbook
A3: this is why it’s important to always be reflective. Look for improvement when necessary, but also continue and build upon what works well #ditchbook
A3: truly evaluate practices. Don’t keep them because they are favorites. Be able to explain why the “traditional” practices you feel are worthy should be kept. #Ditchbook
A3: "traditional" doesn't make it bad, and "new" doesn't make it empowering => impact on student learning and experience is the true measure! How can we lift and enhance already good teaching practices! #ditchbook
A2: when everyone feels safe to take risks, we can explore, challenge and innovate in our teaching and learning. The more risk averse the environment or culture, the less likely you are to see innovation occurring.
#ditchbook
A3: It's important to tackle the monstrous mentality that "this is the way I've always done it, so that's what I'm going to continue to do." Once that shifts, the DITCHing of the bad practices is much clearer!! #ditchbook
A3: It is critical for teachers to always prioritize HOW and WHY their classroom decisions support student learning. Teachers do not have time to waste on practices that never impact students understanding on content #ditchbook
A3: Constantly monitor and adjust those practices to ensure they are still working and charting you on the right course. If growth is not happening or you start to regress it may be time to "DITCH" that and try new! #Ditchbook
A3 - This will always be challenging for certain teachers. What I’ve found is the best method is showing them the results. Every teacher wants to enjoy their job and be effective. Showing colleagues how innovation and new ideas can help them to enjoy their job is key. #ditchbook
A3 I think SHARING is key here. Ts need opportunities to share the cool, innovative things they're trying in their classrooms. We are all #bettertogether and we don't know what we don't know. Sharing of ideas and resources can lead to "better" practices. #ditchbook
Q3 Not all "traditional" practices are bad practices. How do we DITCH the ones that are and incorporate better practices into today's learning? @AnneKamper#ditchbook
A3: When teacher teams are able to observe each other and reflect on practice together, they will know what to keep and what to DITCH. #ditchbook#puttingstudentsfirst#plcs#trust
A3: If your practice makes you question if you'd put you own child in that class or if you as a child would be disengaged, then why NOT ditch it?!?! #ditchbook
Hey. Super late. Sorry. Chris. WA. Ed tech instructional coach. Co-founder of #ProjectBasedAwesome super stoked to be jumping in with y’all tonight! #ditchbook
A3: Using active reflection, we can constantly check for "bad" practices. Beta, beta, beta. In today's learning environment, "test drives" are super important. Make a change, monitor the change, reflect on the effectiveness of the change, make adjustments. #ditchbook
A3: I think making sure it's better is key. Does it lead to more learning? Do the learners enjoy it more? Too often we confuse innovative with new/different. #Ditchbook
Results matter. All the new technology can be daunting for teachers who’ve never used it. Show a teacher something that will inspire students, while making their job more enjoyable = game changer. #ditchbook
And where there are opportunities to share student work or student reactions to these new approaches, we should! Showcasing the student experience can help convince colleagues. #ditchbook
Yes! And that goes for sharing on social media as well. I’ve found lots of practices to change from following respected educators on Twitter #ditchbook
A4: Ss are happy & engaged in their learning. They are free to take risks to push their learning forward, the are active participants versus sideline learners. Ts are equally staying up on their practice to ensure their Ss have access to latest information. #Ditchbook
That’s also been one of my favorite parts of not being in my own classroom anymore. I get to visit a lot more classes and see lots of great things #ditchbook
Great points. And this leads me to wonder... do we take enough time to evaluate our practices? To ensure they're impactful on student learning? #ditchbook
A3: I think if we focus on the “traditional” practices that are best for students (not for Ts) and move classrooms toward more student centered arenas where students are taking ownership in their own learning. Voice and choice can happen even in traditional models #ditchbook
Having an open and safe environment to share these failures is super important when trying to facilitate sharing. Sometimes I feel like we should celebrate failure because it ultimately creates learning. #ditchbook
So true, Chad! Too often, Ts become way too comfortable with what they're used to, thinking that the cookie cutter lessons will work for different students each year. #ditchbook
A4: Learning looks like engagement and tons of discussion, about what is noticed and sharing of perspectives. This goes for students and teachers #ditchbook
A3: What are the results? Not just standardized test, but student engagement and excitement to learn. We should be creating a culture where Ss can't wait to come to school. #ditchbook
A3) Ditch anything that doesn't push students to be active citizens. Ditch anything that reduces education to the problem of management and methods @HenryGiroux#ditchbook
A4: S learning in a healthy and innovative culture values failure/experimentation as a part of the learning process, and is NOT to be feared. Ts should have nothing to fear as well. All Ts should show their Ss their willing to take chances! #DitchBook
A4: NOT sitting in quiet rows using a workbook. Diving into their learning... using technology, collaborating, and truly engaged in each lesson. Same for Ts and their professional development! #ditchbook
A4 - In both cases it is grounded in a love of learning. That sounds unrealistic, but that’s our goal. Teachers and students who feel part of a team will try new things, cooperate more, collaborate more and generally try to enhance the school experience for others. #ditchbook
A4: Ss are learning through their passions, connecting with the world, solving real world problems instead of just discussing them, and have voice/choice in the learning & environment. Ts are supporting and guiding this while taking ownership of THEIR own learning. #DitchBook
A4) Both Ts and Ss aren’t afraid to take risks, try new things. They have a support system if they fail or need advice. The community makes it a norm that failure is part of the process, but lack of innovation is unacceptable. Change is good! #ditchbook
One of the data points I see others speak of but still sort of spooks me a bit is surveying Ss... I know it is important but man is that a tough pill to possibly swallow #DitchBook
A4: I envision an abundance of student-led instruction. Additionally, I would imagine it would include a lot of teacher-centered PDs and methods. I'd love to see all of this in action. #ditchbook
A3 Knowing what you stand for, the learners you are wanting to develop & staying true to your message all help in deciding what to keep & what to let go #ditchbook
A4 Student learning looks like students who love learning, can’t wait to come to school, ask questions, not afraid to take risks. Same for Ts but I think teachers should constantly evaluate their practices with the framework of what’s best for Ss #ditchbook
A4: students and educators have choice in what and how they learn. Requires us to back down on standardized testing and scripted teacher Evals. #Ditchbook
A4: I envision an abundance of student-led instruction. Additionally, I would imagine it would include a lot of teacher-centered PDs and methods. I'd love to see all of this in action. #ditchbook
A4: In the healthiest learning environments learners of all ages love learning and value learning from one another... but also see themselves as the best teacher they will ever have and are always working to improve their capacity to learn.
#Ditchbook
A4: learning is collaborative and not just student to student, but teacher to student. Everyone has a growth mindset and owns their learning #ditchbook
A4: Voice & Choice all around...Open assignment so kids can find meaning...Flexible PD for a teacher to choose what & when they can maximize learning...See the new Ipad commercial yet, on HW? It's perfect! https://t.co/LvwStnsUII@jmattmiller#ditchbook
Student learning and teacher learning should look very similar; intake of new knowledge, application of knowledge, reflection, evaluation, and interpretation. #ditchbook
A3. Remember the book and the past are tools, not the authority. Reevaluate your goals. Do old practices help achieve what you want kids to do now? If not, DITCH them. #DitchBook
A4: Schools that embrace #innovation reward students who are self-directed and inquiry driven. Teachers and students are unafraid of failure and embrace the inherent struggle of the learning process #ditchbook
