Welcome to #NoVAedchat! Please introduce yourself and tag a friend who should join us! Bonus: Use a gif or image to show us your first choice of activity for the summer!
Hey everyone! I'm Margaret, HS Tech Coach at Chantilly HS #novaedchat Add a book to this gif and I'm in! Poolside (or in the water on the edge) reading is my fave!
Welcome to #NoVAedchat! Please introduce yourself and tag a friend who should join us! Bonus: Use a gif or image to show us your first choice of activity for the summer!
A1: Keeping up with all the choices? Making sure I hear what students want to see in their learning and understanding that will change every year and with each student! #novaedchat
A1: Ss not choosing the option that fits what we need them to accomplish/learn. Some Ss can be overwhelmed with too many choices or freedom too. #novaedchat
I completely agree, Margaret! I have got into the habit of always creating an option of “you decide” where the students can decide on how to present the material with my approval. #langchat
Truly believe this is a product of how much compliance we require of our students. Takes time to change that mindset! Have you seen this? https://t.co/52P1r5vqIg#NoVAedchat
A2 I've embraced choice boards (sort of) and open-ended projects in which I don't have specific product outcomes in mind. My favorite has been my What Makes You Wonder project because of the freedom it provided kids to grow! #novaedchat
I continue to love #HyperDocs, playlists, assigning certain students in #GoogleClassroom, and MOST IMPORTANTLY continuing to build relationships with students ALL YEAR LONG--not just a few ice breakers in Sept. #novaedchat
A.1 In my 30+ years of classroom & Dept chair experience and in conducting PD around the country in #flipclass and #STEAM It comes down to teacher fear of what happens if students want to do something I don't know about.
#NOVAedchat GREAT question though.
A2 I think it works well when teachers start with a small number of choices, easing in more choice as students grow more comfortable. Having structure they are familiar with, add in a little choice #NoVAedchat
A2: I continue to love #HyperDocs, playlists, assigning certain students in #GoogleClassroom, and MOST IMPORTANTLY continuing to build relationships with students ALL YEAR LONG--not just a few ice breakers in Sept. #novaedchat
Joining late! A2: stations have been very helpful in giving Ss choice. Hyperdocs, hands on activities, project work time, or choose to come to mini lesson. Try to give mild, medium, spicy options at a station if possible. #NoVAedchat
I think it's important to remember that all classrooms, schools, teachers, & students are different. Sometimes, it's hard to know what's going on in them with just a glimpse. #NoVAedchat
Joining late! A2: stations have been very helpful in giving Ss choice. Hyperdocs, hands on activities, project work time, or choose to come to mini lesson. Try to give mild, medium, spicy options at a station if possible. #NoVAedchat
This is so TRUE!!!
Tell what to do to get an "A".
One of my favorite comebacks is "It's your work, what do you want it to look like."
They hate it but they eventually get it.
#NOVAedchat
A2: Choice boards/menus have been my go to when trying to give students more choices. I’ve also experimented with offering multiple assessments as well as class work. #NoVAedChat
A1: Not necessarily a challenge, but have to be more thoughtful about accountability. Can be a challenge for Ss when it is completely new to them. #NoVAEdChat
A3: I would love to have tracks/levels to select from of given topics or have options for the format of the PD. We recently did a Choose Your Own Adventure PD and Ts selected their learning path based on their level of comfort with edtech. It worked really well.#novaedchat
Have you tried standards based grading? I think that combined with a single-point rubric might be really helpful (not that I've had a chance to test my theory yet)! #novaedchat
A3: choosing a path, topic, etc that is productive for us— we should design professional learning for teachers in the way we design lessons for our Ss it should be differentiated to meet the needs of those in the room #NoVAedchat
A3: EdCamps have shown me what real choice can look like in PD and I’ve actually seen some support of this type of PD at the district level but I’d love to see it more widespread. #NoVAedchat
I haven’t and I’ve heard good things about it but my only worry is how standards based grading can be used with mandatory grade books. Currently my district requires two grades per week and I struggle with how those two would mesh together. #NoVAEdChat
Found choice to work really well in Reading Workshop. Students picked what they were working on each round. They knew when they met with T and what had to be accomplished by the end of the week. #NoVAEdChat
It has been such a great change for me (and I hope for my kids) this year. It's clear, it's not nit-picky, and it cuts down on time needed to determine if kids hit the targets #winwin#novaedchat
A4 How to encourage Ss to pick the choices that are right for them so they can be challenged enough to grow but not so much that they panic. I tend to jump right in when trying something new, but I realize more and more that Ss are not the same #novaedchat
A4: In order to provide my Ss with choices, the first thing I want to know is more about my Ss. Knowing their likes/dislikes, learning styles is really helpful in designing a student-centered classroom. #novaedchat
It can absolutely be used with mandatory grade books. You just need to get creative and think about what your grading and how. What do you teach, Tyler? With skills based classes the transition seems to be a bit easier. #NoVAedchat
Conferencing with students. Managing class time differently so you have time to check in with students/they are choosing their path at different times through the work (not just the first day) #NOVAedchat
A4 Definitely want to know more about single point rubrics, managing various choices in the room, keeping students on track when they have different timelines/checkpoints #NoVAedChat
A5: station rotations have allowed me to conference & formatively assess students while working so I can provide scaffolds and fill in gaps where needed. I also incorporate team mini meetings into PBLs so I can see what, where, and how each group is coming along #NoVAedchat
A5 My amazing librarian @AlicePleasants and incredible SBTS @techiesuzie have been invaluable in helping me muddle through. The #FCPSBlended cohort was also helpful b/c I could throw tech into the mix. And I'm a Google Classroom addict #novaedchat
A.5 Stole this from @AngelaMaiers
Find what you Love. Find what Breaks your Heart. And where those two intersect this is where projects can be found.
#NOVAedchat
I have the Ss complete a Google Form about their interests and learning styles. All the answers are stored on a Google Sheet for easy access. Also just having conversations with the Ss helps you get to know them even more. #novaedchat
A6 Conference them to reflect on where we've been and where they can go with their final projects...help them decide on something that will help them grow! #novaedchat
I feel like this is about to be my next blog topic. Mainly how other content areas’ assessments expect Ss to have a certain reading level & how this can drastically affect students scores/grades. #NoVAEdChat#blogging#assessment
I feel like this is about to be my next blog topic. Mainly b/c of how other content areas’ assessments expect Ss to have a certain reading level & how this can drastically affect students scores/grades. #NoVAEdChat#blogging#assessment
Q6 I will make sure I remember to use Google Forms survey students interests so I can incorporate them. Thanks @htrude07! (I always forget about Forms) #NoVAedChat
