Let's start with an easy one....would you rather rake up the leaves, so your lawn looks gorgeous, or jump in them, because #yolo? #scitlap
Introduce yourself and let us know your answer!
Hi! I am Heather, an Instructional Coach for Science for preschool - Grade 5 in Monterrey, Mexico. Definitely jump in the pile, because I hate raking leaves! #scitlap
Let's start with an easy one....would you rather rake up the leaves, so your lawn looks gorgeous, or jump in them, because #yolo? #scitlap
Introduce yourself and let us know your answer!
It is highly possible that your answers tonight will not be black and white! Go with the flow and let us know your thoughts on these mildly controversial questions! Enjoy! #scitlap
Question 1 is coming.......
Tracey from Illinois. HS biology. I love raking leaves! I don’t jump in them but I also don’t do it for my lawn. I just like raking. #rakingovervacuuminganyday#scitlap
A1 ummm so this doesn’t sound adventurous but I’ll say rake Bc you know... ticks. Or maybe jump, but then frantically looking for ticks 😂#scitlap#HatersGonnaHate
I love my job! I get to get science going on in elementary classrooms. Our Elem Ts are working hard to implement #NGSS and it is great to be a part of the process. I am learning more and more about science from the process. #scitlap
A1 I LOVE my current position teaching Regents Earth Sci in regular ed, coteach, & 15-1-1@settings. Sometimes have my “if I ran the zoo” fantasies but just can’t leave my classroom. Yet. #scitlap
A1 I love my job, but I do sometimes daydream about going the technology specialist route. Not sure if I could leave the classroom. I do what I can to spread my tech knowledge in my district. #scitlap
This year I am particularly loving my job. Part of the reason is connecting with more people via Twitter like through this chat. I am learning so many new things to implement in my classroom. #scitlap
A1) I love teaching 7th grade science. I used to teach math. Too exhausting being on all period every period. I like making messes & exploring science. I ❤️ middle school! #scitlap
A2 Tough one to answer, because I see benefits of both. I feel like the middle of heterogeneous is good, but would love there to be a different grouping for the outliers sometimes. One size (even with DI) doesn't fit all. #scitlap
Curious to hear thoughts.
A2) I have always worked with heterogenous groupings and prefer it. I work most of my first 13 weeks with students on how to work cooperatively and take risks to answer. #classculture#scitlap
A3: I have a phone hotel with charging station. Phones are in the room if we need to use them, but they are not on their persons or desk. Works well for my classroom #scitlap
Sometimes I feel like it is not fair to the kids that just can't keep up as fast. Things can be modified, yes, but I wouldn't want an adult next to me all of the time helping me. #scitlap
A3 Love having phones in the room and think it is important to teach kids how to use them. It saddens me when they abuse the privilege, but they respond pretty well when I ask to put them away. My leniency causes issues in other classes though. Wish we were a 1:1 school. #scitlap
A4: Tough one. I have had both. It really depends on the students. Chemistry and buy-in. If you have those two then the class can be any size and be successful. #scitlap
A4: I've had both! One year I started with 13 Ss (EAL self-contained) so new Ss could join throughout the year. It was tough to get convos and group work going. The marking and report cards were easier, so I'll take tiny. #scitlap
Honestly, a tiny class. You have the ability to have more meaningful impact (more immediate feedback, deeper understanding of your Ss, more time to connect, reteach) and tech allows easier collaboration now isolation is much less of a factor. #scitlap
A4 Happy medium is obviously best, but I think I would go with over crowded, if I had a choice. Weird? I don't know why, maybe easier to do group things and easier to participate. #scitlap
A5 I've walked past those rooms, where the teacher has complete control, everyone is in their seat, in a row, and all kids are silently working. That scares me, I can barely look. Lol. Organized chaos, all the way! #scitlap
A3 A tough one. @gcourosis an advocate for letting them have phones. My kids have iPads 24/7 so info at their fingertips. Right now. I am no phones in MS. I show lots of trust in them with iPads & hope they stay on task. I try not to monitor constantly with 🍎 classrm #scitlap
Yes! I often think small is better but I have had a class with eight students and that was surprisingly tough. If they don’t have the energy then you get drained! #scitlap
Organized chaos. But this has come with experience and confidence. When my focus switched to learning over teaching I was finally able to fully embrace this idea #scitlap@NYSMTP@NBPTS
A4 I like what I have now 26-28 with 2 spare tables for lab setup and room to move kids if they need some space. Serving military, we can’t predict sizes. Sometimes low like 21 or as high as 32. Large classes= no room to move = misery #scitlap
A5: I would love more organized chaos. But some days the structure is needed as well. Some students (and me!) can’t always work in that environment. #scitlap
I don’t really assign homework. There are times when I’d like an @edpuzzle done by a certain date, but generally provide class time. I believe no hw creates a more equitable environment #myopinion#scitlap
A6: Ditch the HW. Make a culture of home learning, where Ss are excited to continue their classroom learning at home, but aren't penalized if they do/don't. #scitlap
A5) depending on the day... some call for chaos: kids outside working on projects or big lab. my gaming class is daily chaos but kids know my expectations within that chaos. I call in parent volunteers on those days. Smooth structure with some jazz works too. #scitlap
A6 This year, thanks to @jmattmiller and @alicekeeler I totally ditched the HW. I always assigned a little b/c I thought I had to. It feels so good to just rethink how I teach and how you can get kids to make outside connections without the HW! #ditchHW#scitlap
A6: Ditch the HW. Make a culture of home learning, where Ss are excited to continue their classroom learning at home, but aren't penalized if they do/don't. #scitlap
A6: I definitely assign a LOT less than I have in previous years. It is usually a result of Ss not finishing. Ss are given time in class, and if they don’t use it effectively, they have to finish it on their own time. Most don’t have an issue. #scitlap
A7 This is a "thing" at my school, even within my team. 2 teachers show grades online and 2 don't. It's hard. I don't show mine because I don't think grades are black and white. Kids are parents get frustrated at the different set ups. #scitlap
A7 This is a "thing" at my school, even within my team. 2 teachers show grades online and 2 don't. It's hard. I don't show mine because I don't think grades are black and white. Kids are parents get frustrated at the different set ups. #scitlap
Thank you so much for joining in tonight, feel free to share any other "Would You Rather" questions....I had so much fun with all of you science pirates! Good night! #scitlap
A8 To me, waking up and finding out you get a day off, is the best. Snuggle up and watch a movie, go outside and play. Snow days aren't for work. The are treasured moments you get extra time with! #SoSappy#scitlap
A6 I don’t create HW just to give homework. They do study Sci prefixes/suffixes as 5 min HW but also study as CW. Need some out of class responsibility. I had little K-12 and really struggled at Berkeley my 1st year. #scitlap
