Welcome to the #nt2t chat. I'm your host for today! I'm a parent in Connecticut, USA, who has worked in education communications. We'll have a challenging conversation today about... having challenging conversations. Introduce yourself, where you're from and role in education.
Icebreaker: For the lighthearted side of the news, anyone take in the #RoyalWedding? Where are you on the scale of zero (ick - who cares?) to 10 (sobbing uncontrollably at the sight of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tying the knot?) #nt2t
John from STL MO 3rd grade T checking on a toddler with a fever and a wife with Braxton Hicks contractions now and then while chatting with #nt2t crowd today ;)
Sadly - I’m a zero. Not a royals watcher- love a good spot of tea or me fish n chips ... everyone loves a pretty wedding gown .. but see the pic .. moving on. Just call me -the wedding crasher!! ❤️ #nt2t
We'll be using Q1, A1, Q2, A2 (question 1/answer 1) format. Please include the A & question number in your reply (A1, A2, etc.), and be sure to include #NT2T in your response as well so we all actually see one another.
Also, feel free to have side conversations or just say hi!
We're thinking today about the troubling events of the week: #Gaza, the #SantaFeHighShooting, and more.
Q1) Should you integrate news and politics in your lessons or curriculum? Why or why not? #nt2t
Stoked! My class is studying Australia right now - and we just discussed that what the US calls eucalyptus trees- those of you down under call them “gum trees” .. I’m hoping that is correct! #nt2t
A1: I really think you should, but...keep it appropriate for the age of students. Kids need to understand what is happening, where it is happening, and most importantly, WHY it is happening...the good and the bad. #NT2t
Correct.
Although we do recognise the term eucalyptus trees too. Just that gum is easier to spell and say and Aussies like to make words short (or put a y on the end) #nt2t
We're thinking today about the troubling events of the week: #Gaza, the #SantaFeHighShooting, and more.
Q1) Should you integrate news and politics in your lessons or curriculum? Why or why not? #nt2t
A1: I believe you should integrate news and politics into lessons because students will be able to apply real world experiences into their assignments. #nt2t
A1. Depends with my age level. Water crisis in Africa and eclipse are yes. Shootings and war atrocities not so much. But news does creep in at times. Managing the impromptu convos is a balancing act #nt2t
A1 it is my job to do that. My course is called contemporary world cultures - and with the state teks, we discuss current happenings to better understand current cultures and people groups! #nt2t
A1 Absolutely. Part of our jobs as educators is to promote citizenship. Besides, the more authentic a lesson is, the more engaging it is. My class watches @CNN10 religiously, every morning. #nt2t
A1: I also think it would be great if the school and parents work together to help explain what is happening. Would be good for kids to see both groups that care about them are willing to unite. #NT2t
A1 I think that we should include news and current events being mindful of appropriateness @Newsela is a great resource for this! It is important for kids to know about real world problems and multiple perspectives #NT2t
A1: I’m thinking specifically about the social studies classes I push into. My district has many families with very strong political beliefs. Bringing current events into the class can help kids connect to material but there MUST be a culture of respect established #nt2t
Welcome to the #nt2t chat. I'm your host for today! I'm a parent in Connecticut, USA, who has worked in education communications. We'll have a challenging conversation today about... having challenging conversations. Introduce yourself, where you're from and role in education.
A1: I also think it would be great if the school and parents work together to help explain what is happening. Would be good for kids to see both groups that care about them are willing to unite. #NT2t
A1: We must be mindful to make sre kids are getting the facts, not our own biases and opinions. Must also teach kids to understand that the news they are reading comes with bias as well. #NT2t
A1: I’m thinking specifically about the social studies classes I push into. My district has many families with very strong political beliefs. Bringing current events into the class can help kids connect to material but there MUST be a culture of respect established #nt2t
No it's me.
I believe that what students get from me must be fact. Of course the fact that I bring up an issue probably implies I have an opinion. But I feel it's important they form their own and don't learn to believe opinions because adults said so.
#nt2t
I was trained(oddly)to teach sex education. Strategy was to answer truthfully,honestly,&only what is asked.Don’t go beyond the actual question asked in your response-tmi. This “method”is basically what I use with World crisis and events;what kids ask,they can handle,no more.#nt2t
A1: I really think you should, but...keep it appropriate for the age of students. Kids need to understand what is happening, where it is happening, and most importantly, WHY it is happening...the good and the bad. #NT2t
Wow! Would LOVE to hear more about the course you teach. Especially how you set up expectations for respectful discourse and how you choose which events to cover #nt2t
Do you at least talk about why you have opinions you do, even if you don't express them? To send the message, it's ok for everybody to have opinions. #nt2t
I've happily argued the opposite of what I believe with students to get them to understand the other side #nt2t
I agree you can't have a view if you don't know all sides.
A1: I’m thinking specifically about the social studies classes I push into. My district has many families with very strong political beliefs. Bringing current events into the class can help kids connect to material but there MUST be a culture of respect established #nt2t
A2: My hope would be these topics lead to discussions about empathy, appreciation for what you have, understanding of different cultures and different point of view. #NT2t
Yes.
I have a history of politics behind me.
When someone had thought things through and developed a view contrary to mine I always had great respect for that because I believe teh important thing is understand why you believe something #nt2t
Which is why I am a firm believer int he power of tech to connect kids globally. How better to teach tolerance and empathy than by connecting with others form around the world? #NT2t
A2 Awareness, acceptance. I recently taught a lesson borrowed from @historycomics about a Syrian mother struggling to keep her family from starving during war. The insight and depth of responses were the best of the year, but it was the empathy that really had me proud. #nt2t
A2) That they matter, that they both unite and divide us, that it's important to stay informed and also know what an acceptable degree of being informed is. Fight for a cause or step back sometimes if you need to. #nt2t
Which is why I am a firm believer int he power of tech to connect kids globally. How better to teach tolerance and empathy than by connecting with others form around the world? #NT2t
Agree, especially when it comes to kids. They "believe" something because it's what they have heard the adults in their life say. At some point, they need to understand what they believe and why. #NT2t
A2) Lots
- that people can rise above adversity
- that if we can understand why bad things happen we might be able to avoid these situations
- empathy for those in need #nt2t
A1: news should be integrated when appropriate. In my Spanish class, we sometimes read headlines in Spanish. If Ss had something to add, they did. It was important for Ss to know we could discuss many things. One class was very vocal and felt safe to be so #nt2t
A2: empathy. Though our kids are connected to the world digitally, many only understand their own bubble. Sometimes it’s good to pop that bubble and gain some perspective, appreciation, a call to action, or tolerance. Discussing tougher events can do this #nt2t
it is so difficult for our kids to understand what it must be like to live in a war-torn country. Not sure we have anything that truly compares to that. #NT2t
A2: empathy. Though our kids are connected to the world digitally, many only understand their own bubble. Sometimes it’s good to pop that bubble and gain some perspective, appreciation, a call to action, or tolerance. Discussing tougher events can do this #nt2t
It's important to give kids some credit. They certainly have opinions from todderhood on. As for opinions on things beyond the realm of their own lives, that develops with time, and it's worth giving them the benefit of the doubt. Adults parrot, too. #n2t
Yes.
I have a history of politics behind me.
When someone had thought things through and developed a view contrary to mine I always had great respect for that because I believe teh important thing is understand why you believe something #nt2t
A3 - Most definitely! Our audience should drive our lessons. At any level, knowing the appropriate content to teach is part of great instruction. We should be willing to take risks, but only when it truly benefits kids. #nt2t
Yea....that's a tough one for sure. Hopefully the end result is always positive and we are creating more empathetic kids who will become empathetic adults. #NT2t
Usually with what we call "a straight bat"
Give the facts, counter the quotes with quotes.
Although when it comes to science and evolution I conveniently have a Priest on staff who is also a science teacher. Very handy. #nt2t
I think a student can be too young for certain topics. I think there is something to be said for holding on to innocence for our youth. The reality is some of our children are traumatized in their home and maybe dont need to be traumatized by world events as well. #nt2t
A3 - Yes. There is a fuzzy, grey line that exists that indicates the age at which students are mature enough for some content/issues and requires detailed knowledge of your students and careful consideration. #nt2t
A3) I don't think there are many topics themselves that should be off-limits; it's how you approach them. You wouldn't share graphic stuff with littles but talk gently about families who are affected (by war, refugee crisis, whatever). #nt2t
Agreed. It is tough to talk about rare and unlikely school shootings with a student who writes about the bullet holes in their house from nightly gunfire in their neighborhood. #nt2t
I think a student can be too young for certain topics. I think there is something to be said for holding on to innocence for our youth. The reality is some of our children are traumatized in their home and maybe dont need to be traumatized by world events as well. #nt2t
A3) You can be too young to fully comprehend the arguments.
But kids see TV and other media. they know bad things happen. Give them a context at least...
#nt2t
A2: we viewed 360Syria after listening to a song about mesage for a better world. Ss knew about this conflict but they weren’t aware of how many narions were involved. They weren’t aware of the plight of the children. Eye opening. “We need to know these things” one Ss said #nt2t
Talk about it. Allow them to lead when it comes to what matters and what they want to know. Delve into it at different levels depending on their age. #nt2t
This is the toughest of all. How to balance appropriate convo when it is impromptu. Especially so when some students are more aware of situations than others. Sometimes it calls for tabling the question and other times a discussion #nt2t
A3: yes. Even as parents we wait on certain topics, but if it’s something affecting young children or teens, and they ask about it, there should be a discussion. Ss can lead it. #nt2t
A3: I don’t think kids can be too young for the THEMES of national or world conflict- intolerance, scarcity, power. These themes can be brought down to our younger learners and made relatable to them. #nt2t
I tend to agree with your students. While not to marginalize school shootings, we make them a major story but neglect the ongoing issues many students face daily. #nt2t
I think parents should be part of the conversation. You want buy-in to some degree. Let them object to certain things and talk it through. As always, education takes a village. #nt2t
Its just a different world. A death threat in the suburbs gets a kid a year of suspension. Around a city school, where the threat is probably more authentic, it doesn't get that much attention.
A4: I really think it comes down to making sure kids understand the root of the problem; the "why" of the situation. Break down the problem into parts that can be discussed and understood. #NT2t
A4: pick a read aloud with a similar theme. Read it. Discuss it. Talk about the current even. Give some context. Guide kids to make some connections. #nt2t
A4. When appropriate give them a context to understand. While not the same, we recently carried water jugs around our track for a mile to better relate to our lessons on water shortages in other parts of the world. #nt2t
Q5) What support system do you have at your school to help students emotionally in frightening times? If you don't have a support system, what do you think is needed? #nt2t
To be able to provide a well-rounded discussion. Thinking back to when I taught in a rural area who are major supporters of owning guns. Might be tough to provide a well-rounded argument. #NT2t
As a teacher, I feel you should give your opinion (at times), but you should let your students know that it is your opinion. Even if you refrain from your opinion, your opinion on a topic or issue comes through. #nt2t#myOpinion
Our 7th graders read A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. Talk about a text that promotes empathy and exposes kids to issues they’ve never dreamed of. Texts like this are great for linking current events #nt2t
A5 We do have a social worker, a psychologist, wrap around services from @SayYesBuffalo and they do a wonderful job. There isn't much they can do though if we are not diligent as teachers. #nt2t
A4: if it was introduced, I let Ss talk about it in both Spanish and English. I wanted to talk about a few social issues such #bullying and #anxiety with level 2 but I was told no. Ss didn’t understand why. Heritage speakers class presented on their own topics however. #nt2t
This really leads to much bigger issues as well. The diversity in what kids experience form different areas is so different. We need to connect kids, nationally and internationally, so they get a "big" picture. #NT2t
Depends on the individual. Most of my class enjoyed the activity and some missed the point. But others really shared understandings of the physical burden and how much time it took. We reflected via @flipgrid. It was interesting to listen to 3rd graders "get it" #nt2t
A5: social worker, school counselors...recently had a student open up to me about a significant family issue. Showed me the value in the time I’ve invested in our relationship over the years. #nt2t
This really leads to much bigger issues as well. The diversity in what kids experience form different areas is so different. We need to connect kids, nationally and internationally, so they get a "big" picture. #NT2t
And have you ever tried to connect your students with kids that experience this in their every day lives? Maybe your kids could take on a fund raising activity to help those in need? #NT2t
Hmmm.... how should a school handle discourse? Ain't that a big value of school in the first place? ;)
Assuming we also mean other words like "disagreement" -- it's not easy but it also gives students a laboratory for being able to express themselves. It's rough out there. #nt2t
A6: a goal of mine this year was to try some communication protocols so ALL students voices were heard. I’ve tried chalk talks and “save the last word for me” to allow students the chance to really sort through their complex thoughts and articulate them for all to see #nt2t
A5: social worker, school counselors...recently had a student open up to me about a significant family issue. Showed me the value in the time I’ve invested in our relationship over the years. #nt2t
I'm thinking if there is great disparity among parents on what issues should be discussed and what shouldn't. What is the response of the school at that point? #NT2t
A6: a goal of mine this year was to try some communication protocols so ALL students voices were heard. I’ve tried chalk talks and “save the last word for me” to allow students the chance to really sort through their complex thoughts and articulate them for all to see #nt2t
I suppose opting out. I knoe that divides kids but that's the parents' choice. I'm just troubled by certain parents restricting all students from being a part of it. #nt2t
A6: I think communications involves not only learning how to carefully say what you mean, but also listening with not only your ears, but with your heart as well. #NT2t
CHALLENGE: As you read/listen to the news this week, post a news topic that you think could be turned into a lesson for students. Post the topic, and a link to the news item if applicable, and include #nt2t in your post.
A1: Following #nt2t today. What can be learned? Engagement. Can't sit on sidelines & ignore problems. We all need to learn how to build PLN and be active, ongoing & life long in our understanding of issues.
Large sheets of paper/white board space/ questions hosted on a Google doc-lots of ways to do it, but idea is SS write their thoughts and responses SILENTLY so they have a chance to process&articulate. Later Ss cycle through&comment/agree/disagree. Like a silent discourse #nt2t
I don't like it either. Adults have a choice whether they allow their kids to engage. I also don't like the messages that "you can't handle this" or "I don't want anyone to talk about this" or "I don't want to hear any other opinions." It's school! They're there to learn. #nt2t
Round of applease to @seni_bl for coming u witht hetopic/questions today and @JeremyDBond for moderating our chat. And thanks to all for joining the discussion! There is so much more that needs to be discussed. #NT2t
Round of applease to @seni_bl for coming u witht hetopic/questions today and @JeremyDBond for moderating our chat. And thanks to all for joining the discussion! There is so much more that needs to be discussed. #NT2t
