#RuralEdChat Archive
#RuralEdChat is a chat that focuses on the needs of the rural educator. This chat has been revised by Tammy Neil (@MathNeil), John Martin (@edventures) and Natalee Stotz (@nataleestotz).
Tuesday March 22, 2016
Hey, Linda. Sometimes those metaphoric bridges are difficult to build. Glad you are here. https://t.co/5hp1qqDH2y
Checking in from NY's Southern Tier. Hoping building bridges won't require moving many cubic yards of cement tonight.
Anna Brower, Freshman at Grove City College in PA, Soc major now, was an Ed Major! Still wanna work with kiddos!
. Welcome, Anna. So glad you are here.
Thanks. If I need help, I'm sure you'll pitch in
thank you so much! I'm excited!
. That's why I brought my shovel. :-)
We will be using the Q1/A1 format tonight until the conversation takes over.
Hi, Anna. I've been to Grove City . My sister used to live there.
I love it out there! So pretty, especially in the fall. We're on Easter Break right now!
My dad often roped me and my sister into helping spread cement. His line was "nice and easy girls, nothin' to it."
Bridges are often the symbol for support in education. Teaching without support is extremely difficult.
Same line we heard on the farm when we were spreading other things as well. https://t.co/GhO86qnDrQ
My dad often roped me and my sister into helping spread cement. His line was "nice and easy girls, nothin' to it."
**Q1**
What advice do you have for a new teacher searching for support?
A1: be VERY intentional about getting to know your colleagues,administration, and things like twitter chats!
when I'm not at school home for me is Clearfield, PA!
A1 Don't stick to the obvious people and don't overlook the obvious people.
A1: My advice is to be clear of what type of support you want. Support does not always mean lunch partner.
A1b: Remember that true support isn't mandated. It's cultivated over time.
A1 Tell good stories. People are more willing to help when your problem has a storyline.
Hey . Jumping in late from WI. I'm Robin, a MS/HS library media specialist.
Good point. Sometimes we just want to gripe. Other times we need expert advice.
. Hey, Robin. Glad you made it. :-)
Sheesh. Crazy evening. Calm now. Glad to be here!
I'm trying to remember what it was like being a new teacher. I'd taught a lot before getting into a classroom
and oh how many types of support are needed in our work at times. This ID-ing step is important to avoid overwhelm.
Hi, wondered where you were. Life happens, doesn't it?
Hey , how is it going tonight? We are getting ready for a possible spring snow storm here!
**Q2**
Let's be detailed. What types of support do we need/want?
&new 2day is different than new when we started. Had convo other day where tcher had no exp w/unions & bargaining
. It seems like there's always one last snow storm. Glad you are here.
yep! Here too. It's all everyone is talking about. :)
A2: I need support in lesson planning, I'm not very good at how much detail/info, using a consistent format, or updating online
A2:content area and grade level support, administrative and parental support are two big and often neglected ones!
That's up near I-80, right?
I agree, admin & parental support. I'm still learning how to communicate well w/ parents to get support https://t.co/Z4K1lMbnAD
A2:content area and grade level support, administrative and parental support are two big and often neglected ones!
i'm about 4 miles from 1-80!
A2: Even at this point, sometimes I need a pat on the back. The emotional support is crucial.
That would be me, too. I've not public ed.
right! the "go big or go home" stage. We're into make-up days in June tho...I can still make the best of days off
And Happy (early) Birthday to you from the team!
It's been interesting working in a state where it was systematically & then suddenly dismantled.
Just when you get to know the ropes, somebody moves the ropes
Read a gr8t piece re "emotionships" other day.That we fill our soc netwrks w/people who meet those needs in diff ways.
Even veteran teachers sometimes find themselves in situations where support is lacking. Let's find support for each other.
Like that term "emotionships"
Q3 will be here in just a moment.
it's often as small as lending ear, writing a note or dropping by to say "hi." Big bridge-building in sm ways there!
**Q3**
Where do you turn for curriculum support?
A3: GOOGLE! I do so many searches. My teacher friend in the next town. We're now a PLTW school so I use their forums too
A3: I have a couple of peers at another school, but for the most part, I turn to ISTE communities and Twitter Chats.
A3: definitely fellow teachers!
A3 I definitely use my PLNs to develop & share ideas. I prefer collaborative curric devel proc
A3 I go outside for curriculum support. I find more new-to-me ideas in work by designers, business people, etc.
yes! absolutely. it's so important to look beyond edu for how we might make edu relevant
Thanks. Opened for reading later
A3: My students give me ideas too "Hey have you heard of ______, we should do that!"
Is that Q4 I hear knocking? Let me check the door.
that is so true! They know what will help them more than we do most times.
**Q4**
Where do you turn for support in dealing with parents?
A4: I'm actually not too good at this part. My partner in crime, always has good advice when I need it
A4:I would find a teacher who excels at parent comm and take advice from them
A4: When I moved to this school, I found great advice from the veteran teachers and guidance counselors.
the mutual benefit is huge. Looking forward to this article, Linda!
only experience with parent as college teacher, was father of girl I caught plagiarizing. He chaired another dept.
are there big differences in how different schools handle parent interactions? Curious .
I think it depends on how supportive the situation is. https://t.co/i5RXhvBoMI
are there big differences in how different schools handle parent interactions? Curious .
yes I think so. Our school does a lot of positive communication
and tone of interactions can vary greatly based on leadership, culture, history, etc.
He cried. Said kid had coasted along on his coattails. Was happy she learned lesson before 1st job.
That could have gone very differently. Good thing he understood seriousness of it. https://t.co/rxVRYBkdUG
He cried. Said kid had coasted along on his coattails. Was happy she learned lesson before 1st job.
Just from being member of public, I'd expect lots of differences in styles
She was preparing to do student teaching the next fall. I made her re-do, no grade penalty. She wasn't taught well.
**Q5**
How do you offer support to other educators?
A5: I leave my door open, I ask how people are & listen, I offer to help w/ any thing technology whenever they need it
A5 Depends on situation: anything from help to move to offer to tutor a student online for teacher with husband in hospital
A5 I try to start w/not making assumptions, building relationships, giving a good old fashioned darn
A5: I hold tech support classes after school. I also share resources with others as I find things that work with their classes.
Remembering what someone say s/he needed after the moment has passed is a great bridge-builder. Kudos
Wow, it's been a powerful conversation tonight. will be archived later tonight and can always be found on our site.
