#LearnLAP occurs on Mondays starting at 7pm Central Time. Guest moderators and participants discuss topics from author Paul Solarz's book Learn Like a PIRATE.
I'm Paul Solarz, 4th grade teacher from Arlington Heights, Illinois & author of #LearnLAP. It's 35 degrees right now by me (better than the -50 wind chill from last week!). Thanks to @MrAlbertSES for moderating tonight! :)
This is my first twitter chat #learnlap all of my tweets for the next hour will go here. I am Krista a fifth grade teacher from Missouri. I just had 3 snow days last week but it is now a wonderful 53 degrees.
Hi #learnLAP, Christine from Seattle. MS STEM, Tech & Innovation and https://t.co/W7nneDYv3A co-founder/feedback whisperer. It’s 27F and we had a SNOOOOW DAAAAAY!
A1 Here are 21 different ways - look at what you've planned in your lessons & think about - Are students mobile or stationary during the lesson? - Where is there movement?
https://t.co/nE4azCZkN9#LearnLAP
A1 I change seats every two weeks, w/Ss getting choice Could be fun to have them do quick "fire drill" and then return to their seats, or have them swap within their group to move around #NewIdeas#LearnLAP
A1 when I was teaching Social studies we used to play Simon says different areas on the body represented important geographic areas and landmarks. #Learnlap
A1: Plenty of opportunities for reenactment in history class. I also love the chrome extension "Move-It" to get kids up and moving during the block. #learnlap
A1: I totally think we need movement! We placed our AR codes around the building. Students loved scanning different codes and learning about landforms in different locations around the building! #learnlap
A1 - We do a lot of moving in my room but I could definitely add in more moving around campus. We’re studying thermodynamics right now and will definitely be playing in the snow when school is back on campus. #learnLAP
A1a When ever possible I try to incorporate Ss moving into a lab When they have freedom of movement their answers seem to be more natural & authentic #LearnLAP
A1: I’ve seen great teachers have hand motions for certain learning activities; some, dance moves; others, handshakes. Some, all three! The kids are moving and that movement enhances their learning. #LearnLAP
A1) I like to make students find partners and do silly things when we are reading long passages, stand back to back, stand elbow to elbow....I also like doing daily math and when students get so many correct on thursday they get chosen to complete in a hockey shoot out! #learnlap
I’m pretty flexible in my room. Some kids moved their 4 pod into a circle today and i thought it looked cool. May have to put a group leader in the middle #LearnLAP
A1: I just enjoy having them vote for options with their bodies. Not only hands, but "stand if you believe this..." or "cross your arms if you also thought this..." #LearnLAP
A1: it’s importantly remember that learning can happen all around the building and not just stuck inside the 4 walls of the classroom. Use the library space, and common areas around the building #learnlap
A1: my 2nd graders work in their seat, standing up, in a scoop rocker, on a carpet square on their bellies..whatever is needed. We also add games and @GoNoodle brain breaks! #learnlap
A1: I was a history teacher in my past life so I loved seeing Mr. Thompson bring Trench warfare to BFMS-West. One thing to see it, completely different thing to immerse yourself in it! #learnlap
A2 - I’d like to do a better job of displaying student work but we do it all digitally and I struggle to find time to print work out. Anyone have strategies for personalizing a classroom with student work? #learnLAP
Elementary assistant principal in Marshfield, MA. Happy to check in on this #learnlap chat with old colleague, longtime mentor, and good friend @MrAlbertSES. It's going to be a great chat with him at the lead!
A1 I love getting them up for a little vocabulary basketball or taking an opinion poll by having them move from one side of the room to another. #LearnLAP
A1: I was a history teacher in my past life so I loved seeing Mr. Thompson bring Trench warfare to BFMS-West. One thing to see it, completely different thing to immerse yourself in it! #learnlap
A1. “Word Workouts” are fun! After quizzing each other on new vocab my 6th graders and I will actively spell the word, doing a jumping jack, hop, side twist etc for each letter! #Learnlap
A2 We need to create flexible and dynamic learning environments - so that children can work in different modes & combinations - the learning environment is the 3rd teacher - creating different spaces where children can engage in different learning opportunities.
#learnlap
A2: In first grade, I was primarily flexible seating. The kids loved it and so did I. I plan on bringing more of it back next year when I set of my classroom. #learnlap
A2: Union STEM teachers have used all flexible seating, some flexible seating...some have moved from student desks to using octagon-shaped cafeteria tables that we formerly had in our cafeteria. Easy to fold them up & crest lots of room space for certain activities #learnlap
A2 - space is an issue, but I do my best to allow for some modified seating and tables for designing; I want to incorporate my walls for writing and presenting more...I have to de-clutter soon!! #learnlap
A2 We need to create flexible and dynamic learning environments - so that children can work in different modes & combinations - the learning environment is the 3rd teacher - creating different spaces where children can engage in different learning opportunities.
#learnlap
A2 We have comfy chairs so each day a different group gets to sit in them. Other students may sit on the floor or at their desks if they choose. #learnlap
A2: surround your classroom w your passions & your Ss passions will automatically drive engagement! If you’re interested in plants? Make a hanging green house wall! If constructive play drives engagement create a space for Ss to bring their ideas out on a larger scale! #learnlap
Flexible Seating! As a teacher I need to move around my room bc I get tired of teaching from my small group table. My Ss should have the opportunity to move around too. Sometimes you just need a new and comfy space to learn. #learnlap
A2 Rearranging the seating keeps it fresh and mixes up who they are working with. Bringing in some cool new seating they have never seen before. Allowing them to be creative about where they sit in the room. #LearnLAP
A2) As much as I love my classroom this year I wish I had more space or even open learning spaces for projects often times my Ss end up in the Hall #learnlap#space
A2: My classroom is going to be painted this summer! WHOOP! I’ll start there! I think that fresh coat of paint will be the push I need to overhaul the space. I’ll start taking donations now. 😉 #LearnLAP
2b. The aspects also to consider is how do we engage all the senses into our learning environment as well as the aesthetic, social, emotional, spiritual & cognitive elements for learning #learnlap
A2 Our reno provided me with a small breakout room attached to my classroom. It has become our reading room & mini lesson space. Ss have turned it into a clubhouse of sorts and use the space as a collaborative work area. Many seating options with lots of natural light. #LearnLAP
A2: Big on the idea of whiteboard tables. You can buy a covering for $64 on amazon and turn a table you already have to a whiteboard table. I think that takes us to “learning space” instead of classroom. Think of the collaboration! #learnlap
A2: I’ve always been a fan of @burgessdave example of when her turned his classroom into the scene of a book his Ss were reading! Create a learning experiences that invites students INTO the learning itself! #learnlap
There never seems to be enough space in the average classroom. We overflow all the time as well. We are lucky to have some other nice working spaces in our school we can use for a change of pace. #LearnLAP
A2: I think we need to be mindful that some students want to socialize and others would prefer to work alone, silently. Let's give them spaces (if possible) to do those two things. #LearnLAP
Love flexible seating! Just want to remember that some students prefer direction, even where to sit and who to work with. May need to ease them into being comfortable with a lot of choice and making a good choice. #learnLAP
Children's involvement is also so important in designing a learning environment - it is a way of empowering them within the learning community #LearnLAP
A2: surround your classroom w your passions & your Ss passions will automatically drive engagement! If you’re interested in plants? Make a hanging green house wall! If constructive play drives engagement create a space for Ss to bring their ideas out on a larger scale! #learnlap
There's a need to move away from classroom spaces + let students use whole campuses to collaborate + create in interdisciplinary, intergrade ways. This requires a high level of trust in students, but we get our best work when we remove barriers + believe in them. #LearnLAP
A2 sometimes it helps to look creatively at things you already have. A few years ago a teacher discarded this “book shelf” by placing it out in the hall at the end of the year, and I repurposed it as high counter seating+storage. #LearnLAP
A2: Flexible seating is what’s needed. Sites like Donors Choose are such an amazing option when allowed. I personally think all classrooms should have flex seating. My son could never sit in a chair all day.
I’d like to be more innovative with my space. #learnlap
A3 I like to have my @Spotify playlist going when Ss come into the room. Gets them into a movement type of mood, makes the classroom more natural #LearnLAP
A1 #learnlap Jeri fr Jersey English T-take it outside w/journals. Gallery walls w/clipboards & rotations; Anchor charts for characterization; four corners or take a side for questioning; Graffiti walls for exit cards; fly swatter Vocabulary; Vocabulary basketball
A3 I❤️using commercial jingles or theme songs for transitions. I also ❤️welcoming my Ss in for the day with a handshake & John Williams music. #LearnLAP
A3 There is always a song in my head. Sometimes it sneaks out when the lyrics match a question or a line from a book and we just have to sing it together. Recently worked music into a literature assessment. From the S generated blog: https://t.co/sVJZMqCkjg#LearnLAP
A3 I used to have kids create Folk Songs or Paradis of famous songs over our content on Friday’s. We also have teachers that do dance parties in their classrooms for brain breaks #Learnlap
A3: my kids love to write to music! Sometimes we work to The Greatest Showman soundtrack because why not?!? Baby voices singing 😍 I also have an addition/subtraction rap cd that my kids love to listen to while practicing their facts on their Holey Cards. #learnlap
A3: Having the Ss stand up and pair up while playing music in order to discuss questions, complete a walkabout, or review for an assessment. Getting them up and dancing as they find a partner is fun for them and entertaining. We all get to laugh and have a good time. #learnlap
A3 this is the ELA teacher’s jam. After reading act 1 scene 1 romeo & Juliet we listened to Tchaikovsky’s r&j fantasy to id elements from the play #LearnLAP
A3: Music can be so moving! I use to play different video scenes of the ocean, rainforest, etc with music for when the students first walked into my classroom. It helped to start the day in a calming way. #LearnLAP
A3a Over the summer I can going to try to develop playlists that correspond to my four unit in science Music is such a powerful tool to add to a routine #LearnLAP
A3: @MrBettsClass has amazing music videos that I love to share with my students. I love to show them at the start of the unit to provide an overview of the topic. They really do a great job of helping content stick with them! #learnlap
A3 For sure @codeorg had the most amazing dance party coding activities this year! We had a blast copying our Sprites’ moves after coding them! #learnlap
A3a Over the summer I can going to try to develop playlists that correspond to my four unit in science Music is such a powerful tool to add to a routine #LearnLAP
A3) I love using music to set the mood. Using sounds, music, and moving images to really help add to the engagement or tell the story. #learnlap I have also used music to discuss Simile and Metaphor or for musical chairs Math!
A3 It's seeing songs/music beyond just "shaking up the lesson" - they are a language of their own that children need to have experience in developing, creating & responding to - across many different learning areas - How can we respond to the learning using song/music?#learnlap
A3 - I try to stick to lo-fo beats and instrumentals if I’m playing music, and generally in my design-oriented classes. Maybe I'll have my High-Tech Wearables students pick a song to represent their brand? #learnLAP
This is really informal, but powerful: when we have time at the end of class, I like to ask for music recommendations + have kids use their phones to play a little of what they're listening to. I get new adds for my playlist + they get to share what they like. #LearnLAP
A3 I have also played bits and pieces of songs and had the students try to guess the singer or the song. Great for brain breaks, indoor recess, or my own entertainment. #learnlap
A3: I use the Bricklayer's Song for a physics lesson and Down by the Seaside for its use of the Leslie speaker. Q: Are we playing the song for the students' benefit or for our own? #learnlap
A3 The prize for winning our final vocabulary game of the week is that the champion gets to pick a “theme song” that I will play in the background when we study words the next week. The kids ❤️ getting to pick the song, & it’s a free and easy award. #Learnlap
A3: Adam from Cincy joining late. I love having music playing when students walk in and throughout class. We use it as a timer, or when it relates to lessons. @SIRIUSXM 60’s on 6 or 80’s on 8 are the faves. #learnlap
A4 - Grades. Let’s just get rid of grades and use that time and energy on more useful forms of feedback and growth tracking. At their best, grades are a fear-focused incentive, at their worst they’re a reason to quit. #learnLAP
A4: Cleaning the lab and all the devices. Who wants to do that! :) I did buy an amazing duster this year though :) Oh and reorganizing my website- #learnlap
A4 personal life: cooking. Have an hour commute and I’m tired. Teacherlife? Bus duty. Because coaches and paras don’t have to grade—they should be the ones doing duty! #learnlap
A4) If only I could take off grading. I LOVE lesson planning, sharing, and working with students but the need for so many grades quarterly I think is the plate I would take away in a heartbeat!!! #learnlap#honestly
One time a student put together a list of songs related to cities from the 13 colonies. For example, we played Philadelphia Freedom. She came up with a good list! #learnlap
A4 Identifying how many balls you are juggling requires you to STOP - be MINDFUL - be REFLECTIVE - be RUTHLESS - What is really not immediate? What is really not as important? Being immediate & reactive in responding to issues - Taking my time to address issues #learnlap
A3: Along same lines, I play music that I find is musically interesting prior to class beginning. But the music has to be on out on the fringe, not pop. This one upset some students and I had to apologize. https://t.co/Cjx2Wfsujr#learnlap
A2 #LearnLAP w/classroom items I’ve been given &bought on my own, I make most. I change up seat arrangements daily/per projects. My faves r “u” & Thanksgiving table! I ❤️finding different spaces too like media center, stem lab, makerspace, cafeteria, gym, sports fields, etc.
Tbh being a teacher/student, you figure out real fast what is necessary and what is fluff. Now that I’m not a student, I feel like I have a ton of time #learnlap
For field trips or special events, I curate a playlist with liner notes to give to students as a kind of soundscape for our time together. I did for students I took to Toronto for a museum studies trip a couple of years back with all Canadian music. #LearnLAP
A4: There are some responsibilities I have taken that sometimes feel like they have made me stretch myself a bit too thin. I'd like to reevaluate them. #learnlap
A4: The constant assessing of kids. As a mother I see the undue stress it causes my son. As a teacher, I don’t need it. I can tell you exactly where my kids fall in any subject. #learnlap
A4: Assessements that lead to nothing. Assessments that are nothing more than a box to check, having no real impact on students or instruction. #LearnLAP
A5 I am currently team teaching and only teach math and science. I notice from morning to afternoon I improve or get ideas from the morning students. I also ask for their feedback from my lessons. #learnlap
Q5 SPOTLIGHTING ✨🌟💫🌞
Rather than reflection of learning at end of the lesson - reflect throughout the lesson by spotlighting children's strategies, successes and new learning. Children learning from each other makes for a collaborative learning community.
#LearnLAP
Ahhh Spreadsheet lessons have now become an experience! I have totally learned how to make them more interactive and appealing to littles. In fact, the first tab I use to create a cover page! I got a lot of ideas from @PintoBeanz11#Learnlap
A3: I recently started playing the Power Of Yet by @CJLuckeyDope for our Inspiration Wednesdays. We are trying to memorize it so we can make our own music video. He has great songs about growth mindset. #learnlap
A5) Last week I totally on the fly made a Super Bowl day for my classes. We read the history of the helmet and pulled out main ideas. Also in my math classes I created my own version on @kimbearden amazing football review lesson! #LearnLAP
A5: When teaching measurement we ended up going outside and measuring different objects instead of staying inside the classroom. It made learning real and fun because we were outside. #learnlap
A5 - every year I’m trying to have more and more of my labs be student-designed. This year about 75% of my labs start with a testable question and a list of supplies, and Ss figure out the rest. I recommend Argument-Driven Inquiry for those science Ts out there! #learnLAP
A5: I’ve recently had the honor of working with 1 teacher in my building that has her students deeply invested in helping others in need. Instead of talk about hunger, we took the Ss to a local food pantry and now they want to start a sharing table at school #LearnLAP
A3 #learnlap ex: setting of novel=1960s-we analyze 1960s music for message, connections to novel, figurative language, etc. Ss also write & perform jingles; music is a requirement in presentations on Slides or @glogster.
There's a general sense that teaching is actually secondary to a number of other often bureaucratic tasks. When you hear people talk about leaving the profession, it's never about the kids, it's about all of the things that prevent people from focusing on the kids. #LearnLAP
A5: Those quick, unplanned changes are what I think makes teaching an art. Many can create impressive lessons on paper, but being able to adjust to little faces and their different needs is what great teachers, in my opinion, do differently. Teach kids, not curriculum. #LearnLAP
A5: I had Ss complete a #greatamericanrace#eduprotocol - I gave them an article or amendment from the Constitution. They created a slide with clues in secret. Then we put it all together to create a digital breakout. It was an awesome intro to the Constitution! #learnlap
@kimbearden posted the idea on her Instagram account but I’m sure you could google it to find it. It’s all about finding amazing people to follow and tweaking the ideas to fit your needs! #learnLAP
In reply to
@kfox819, @kimbearden, @Pinterest, @kimbearden
A5. When I put up a STEM math puzzle problem for the Ss to solve, I told the Ss to look for different patterns with the numbers. The Ss began taking more interest and found multiple pathways in solving the problem and had fun with it! #learnlap
I often think about this when helping students get matched with a book, which seems small, but took me awhile to truly get good at doing. There's a lot of subtlety that goes into it that people don't see + it's way harder than just throwing books at students. #LearnLAP
A6 - to tie to Q4: I let my Ss do the grading! I give them detailed #feedback and they pick their grade. If it’s too wild, we conference, but usually they're spot-on. They can revise and resubmit if that fit’s their learning goals. #LearnLAP
A6: taking their own notes in class; having students teach the class, problem by problem, so that they can give feedback to their peers re: their thinking and problem-solving rather than giving feedback to the teacher and being told, “Good job”. #LearnLAP
A6 I have one teacher that is currently working with students in each of their classes on creating their own test questions based on the standards with varying levels of DOK. This is a great way IMO #Learnlap
A6 If I was back in the classroom I'd have children greet each other as they enter into their classrooms-empowering them at the start of each and every day. #learnLAP
Kindergarten Kids Daily Greeting before class Gives Hope! Teacher Ashley... https://t.co/nJyqePx3Nk via @YouTube
A6b When In The classroom I also used to make my students responsible of teaching the class something about the particular unit we were working on #Learnlap
Last Friday I hadn’t eaten lunch by my 2:00 class and my Ss said “Ms. Witcher, go get your lunch and we’ll run class.” I sat in the back and ate while they facilitated announcements, lab work, and lab checkouts. I only jumped in to clarify. So proud :) #LearnLAP
A6) After getting a class iPad through @DonorsChoose I am still working on teaching my 5th graders to be Class Reporters and be excited about this classroom job. Trying to figure out how to make it something Ss jump to do without me telling them. #learnlap
A4 #Learnlap I took homework off the plate for Ss which made my life in school easier and less grading too. So much better for kids! There’s endless admin paperwork and unnecessary meetings. I’d use that time more wisely.
A5: Last year we read The Search For Delcious and my learners asked if they could survey other learners about what they think is the most delicious food. They made a survey, bar graphs and posters all on their own. I try to say “of course” to any idea kids come up with #learnlap
A6: By January, my 2nd graders are great at editing each other’s writing. They also help file their papers and important notes in their mailboxes. This past week they even ran their own reading group. #learnlap
A7 I haven’t used gameification but our 8th grade social studies teacher used it at the start of the year for classroom procedures and basic map skills. He used a secret agent theme it was GREAT! #Learnlap
A7 - we come up with team names when we get new groups, we have a standards reporting page that displays all the standard/skills and Ss can resubmit to level up— they report it’s like a game, trying to get all your skills to maximum. No grades attached. #LearnLAP
A6 I give my Ss opportunities to take on tasks that help themselves and others grow...My Ss and I co-facilitate PD. We share the planning and the facilitation.#learnlap
A7 Right here for me👇
Providing great opportunities for children to engage in play-based learning as well as PBL & inquiry learning-children are creators, innovators, designers, problem solvers developing 4Cs capabilities in Markerspaces #learnlap@edutopia
Makerspaces encourage independence and creative risk-taking, sending students the message that “struggle and making mistakes are ways that you can learn.” #HowLearningHappens
HS math students learning probability were tasked with creating their own carnival games and calculating the expected value of the game (will it win or lose them money?) A few iterations of revision, then, they got play $ to play each others' games in a giant fair. #learnLAP
A7 as a principal, I would like to do this more with a year long theme. I have used it with a Twitter Challenge for staff combined with a behavior competition for Ss. #learnlap
A7 Minecraft is a option for students to express their understanding. Ss choose to weave it into their literature work and we have used it for large history and science projects. The creative building is engaging & creating video tours empower our learners. #LearnLAP
A7: @aswickhe and I lead an #ISTE session on how to use gamification with professional development for adult learners. Whenever there is a MAJOR award involved people want to play😂 #LearnLAP
A7: As an early childhood major I’ve always believed that kids learn best through “play”. Whether it’s glow in the dark math jenga or reviewing phonics rules with game buzzers. #learnlap
We put the CDs in the back of custom printed coursepacks that we specially curated with folks at the University of Toronto and the Art Gallery of Ontario who provided great learning experiences for my Humanities students. #LearnLAP
A5 #learnLAP I completely revamped our required WWII novel reading to Book Clubs with #edtech, student-led discussions, and Slides. Amazing cooperation from Ss and many more Ss took reading seriously. Choosing from 14 books rather than being forced to read my choice.
A7 Our teachers earn digital badges for utilizing technology. We recently competed against a rival district for the most badges in a two week span. #LearnLAP
Thanks so much to everyone who could chat with us tonight! Thanks especially to @MrAlbertSES for moderating an awesome chat!
Please join us next week as @ReadersLeadPD moderates on Technology in the Classroom.
For now, please check out #tlap for more great discussion! #LearnLAP
Hey #LearnLAP & #tlap folks! If you're around Twitter tomorrow at this time, please join us for #5thchat! All grades welcome!
TOPIC: "Using literature to teach the five SEL components" (Social-Emotional Skills)
Please join @kcpteachertips TUESDAY at 7pm Central for #5thchat!
If you have not hitched your wagon to @WickedDecent you are missing out. A true leader in providing creative pathways for Ss to share understanding. #LearnLAP#TeachersToFollow
