The goal of #wvedchat is to provide educators an opportunity to connect, share, and learn from others by engaging in conversations around issues and topics in education.
#wvedchat A lot of my responses were scheduled tonight. I'm multi-tasking at basketball while chatting. I apologize if I'm not a grateful greeter, but I am thankful for any who can engage in our chat. We need more minds around this topic tonight.
#wvedchat A1: Edu thoughts towards student mtivatn & respnsblty. So many edus rely on grades/points, pink slips, detentions, etc as their primary means of teaching responsibility. I imagine they don't know any other way. I think that benefits Ss who lrn mtvn & respnsblty at home.
#wvedchat A1 I'm also reminded of the role of HW and the impact it has on students of poverty or those raised by grandparents. We can't expect to raise achievement of Ss in poverty by extending their schl day via assigning hours of HW to be done at home.
#wvedchat A1 This is a big edu issue, I understand that. But I wonder if school start times benefit Ss of moderate to high income more so than those in poverty. Dan Pink had a lot to say about school start times.
A1: #wvedchat I'm not sure whether this counts as an education structure, but I can't help but think of all the parts of school that are either after school or cost money like going to a ballgame or staying for after school tutoring that poor Ss can't take advantage of.
#wvedchat A1a I say this as parent of 3 young grls who have mom-dad living in same house. Idk how single parents do it. I understand how TV, Ipads, & other media get used as babysitters just so mom/dad can have a moment of sanity or rest.
#wvedchat A1b But I also know what that does to attention spans & the pressure it puts on Ts to design disney world lessons each & every day. The bar is high today, like it or not. There r kids sitting n our classes who aren't asked to sit quietly for very long, never have been.
#wvedchat A2 Grandparents are supposed to have a special role in the lives of grandkids. I think a measure of that role is robbed when they are asked to raise kids. I can't fathom the challenges grandparents face trying to make decisions that a parent is supposed to make.
Absolutely. Would you feel a part of the school family if you never got to attend a dance or ball game or play or??? because it was after school... That's tough one. #wedchat
#wvedchat Access to resources for HW, too, and not just for students in poverty. If reliable internet access is not available in your holler, it doesn't matter whether you can afford to pay for it or not.
#wvedchat A2 I think it's easy for schools and edus to fail to consider the challenges grandparents face living in a digital world that may or may not have passed them by. Think on that as you consider lines of communication to the home, assignments, HW, checking grades, etc.
#wvedchat A2 Here's how those kids are the same. Every student deserves to feel valued, accepted, heard, believed in, and cared for when they come to school.
#wvedchat We try to help students as much as possible, too, but by the time they get to high school, they have become adept at hiding their poverty, and I think the stigma gets greater, as well.
#wvedchat A3 I applaud schools and teachers who take a genuine interest in Ss who transfer in during the schl year. So often I worry that Ts think first "how do I get this student caught up?" rather than "how do I reach this kid's heart and make them feel a part of my class?"
#wvedchat A2 moving into administration this year, I was surprised by just how many of our students have grandparents as the primary contact. That being said, they are especially grateful for phone calls, especially the positive ones home I try to make on a regular basis.
A2: #wvedchat Had an impassioned student last yr argue that being raised by a grandparent is better than being raised by parents who are unavailable (for whatever reason). I think we need to remember that the situation may not be ideal, but it's probably better than alternatives
#wvedchat A3: I've seen some good "buddy systems" in place for transient students. Use some of your student leaders as a first connection for incoming students. Positive touches on day 1 really go a long way in making a kid want to return on day 2.
Amen. Began my career in institutional ed. Those kids would make an impassioned argument to the judge hoping he/she would extend their sentence. Residential juvenile facility was better than home. #wvedchat
#wvedchat A4 We face a real challenge in WV. From an economic standpoint, it's not getting any better. As a schl ldr I'm thinking of the benefit of teacher mental health, collaboration with each other, & designing experiences that promote vulnerable conversations.
#wvedchat A4 We have to realize that focusing solely on academics is not the answer. Take a holistic approach that promotes the emotional, mental and social well-being. And yes this goes for high schools as well 🤓
#wvedchat A4 An awesome project that our CTE is working on is to make tiny homes for students who are in a local group home to live in after they graduate. Ultimate goal is to have a tiny home village complete with mental health, healthcare, and career services for them!
