The #michED chat is a grassroots effort dedicated to giving teachers, students, and parents across Michigan a bigger voice in the conversation about education in our state. We welcome all voices through a variety of projects, media, and social networking. We’re trying to address educational issues through apolitical conversation, spreading ideas and stories of success from Michigan classrooms across the state, and helping teachers and students regain the courage to connect and demonstrate that schools in Michigan are creating amazing opportunities for learning. We want the face and voice of education in Michigan to be a mural of shared experiences and positive examples of connected learning.
Let's get this going, #miched. Welcome to the chat on curriculum and teacher autonomy. Please introduce yourself - where you're from and what you do. Here is the Smore with the questions for tonight: https://t.co/u5Xf7ZEU5v
Let's get this going, #miched. Welcome to the chat on curriculum and teacher autonomy. Please introduce yourself - where you're from and what you do. Here is the Smore with the questions for tonight: https://t.co/u5Xf7ZEU5v
A1: Teacher autonomy is the ability for any teacher to provide unique interventions for students, coaching, and facilitation within the larger curriculum. #michED
#MichEd Teachers want autonomy to give students what they need to modify/enrich or even slow down based on their students' needs. Important because it is best way to support students.
I can't speak for all but in our district, we have our course "Schoolcraft Standards" which are skill based. There are 8-10 per course. Nonnegotiable that you measure/assess them. What assignments you use are up to you and what is best for Ss! #miched
A1) Teacher autonomy is “Wacky, Weekly, Woozy Writing” in my class & all of the great ideas teachers work hard to plan and help facilitate the best learning. It is creativity, and individuality and of the utmost importance to driving learning for all, including educators. #miched
A1: Autonomy is not pacing guides where every similar class has to be on the same page on the same date. That does not work for students. #MISchoolLibrary#MichEd
There is a base text for every course but you aren't stuck to it. We talk about sharing a pacing guide, assignments, assessments makes teachers lives easier but its not a MUST. PLC late starts and an amazing coach like me is always available :) #miched
Yes. But the teachers in dept/school picked the rocks and put them where they wanted them.
Current system seems to be--there is this boulder in your way. Work with it as best you can. #miched
Yep. All kids have a right to know what expectations are for a course...but we cannot dictate what is best for each group of students to instruct/assess that. That is up to the artistry of a teacher! #miched
Not in our district. There is freedom to teach/assess the 8-10 "Schoolcraft Standards" how teachers would like. We encourage collaboration for sanity and time savings but its up to Ts #miched
Yes. But the teachers in dept/school picked the rocks and put them where they wanted them.
Current system seems to be--there is this boulder in your way. Work with it as best you can. #miched
"slow down" no Tha KS #miched is in enough trouble as it is, the terrible place it's in is bc of these people and their ilk, I don't want them deciding what my children need. They already don't teach, but send instructions for parents to teach instead....
#MichEd Teachers want autonomy to give students what they need to modify/enrich or even slow down based on their students' needs. Important because it is best way to support students.
A1: autonomy is important for giving educators the space to allow their personalities and individual strengths to shine. Just like we encourage our students, we should encourage the individuality of our fellow educators. #miched
Same here. I basically established the curriculum in both of my teaching roles, and it was a massive challenge (also very rewarding) I would have loved something to work within. #miched
That's very cool. My district has had a free hand in selecting much of what we do and how we do it as well. I was thinking more about state level required course work or all 3rd graders "at reading level" or mandatory testing or... #miched
A2: I like to think of curriculum as what students should learn in a given course of study. The structure and resources to support that can be considered part of a curriculum as well. #miched
A2 - Curriculum "means" the content and practice designed to be learned during a course of study and the assessments that will be used to measure it. #MichED
A2 - Curriculum "means" the content and practice designed to be learned during a course of study and the assessments that will be used to measure it. #MichED
Hey #miched popping in to say hi and how disappointed I am that I can’t hang tonight. @csteenst loving the chat topic tonight! Looking forward to the @Storify@techsavvyed! Enjoy the rest of your week #MichEd😎
SIde note... this is being talked about tomorrow in Lansing ... you might want to take a stance and contact your legislator: https://t.co/SGWDhCNX6D#miched
As a math T much has started from "the book" as a starting point, but much of what I do happens beyond the book. We as a dept selected our texts because it fit how, in general, we wanted to proceed. We still have the freedom to branch out as we work towards team goals. #miched
In reply to
@csteenst, @KaelynBullock, @AnnSmart17
I posed the question at a presentation once, and got 12 different answers from 12 different people. We struggled to define it. Are assessments part of a curriculum or something different, for example? #miched
Assessments let you know how your implementation of the curriculum is going, integral to success but I don’t think they are curriculum #mightbewrong#miched
A3 Curriculum is important so all teachers feel supported in the resources available for their use and expectations for their course. Transparency is important of Ts, Ss, and parents #miched
Districts, through their school boards, need to take a bigger state level advocacy role in fighting against laws and rules that are harmful to learning. #MichED
I've seen documents like that, and I like the idea. The problem I see is when teachers feel overwhelmed having to develop plans for the choices they make.. This is where collaboration and resources are critical. #miched
Teachers should focus on teaching. I wish curriculum developers would build more cohesive standards aligned learning materials in all content areas that teachers could adapt and tailor to be place based, culturally relevant, and local.
A3: Curriculum is important because it gives all teachers (brand new, veterans, substitute teachers, etc.) important waypoints and structures to help navigate learning. #michED
MI needs to support school libraries and librarians, especially at lower el. MI is currently 47th in nation in supporting schools libraries & 46th in 4th grade reading. Students than need access to libraries the most typically don't have it. #miched#MISchoolLibraries
In reply to
@csteenst, @conrad_chris, @mcculloughmg
Thanks. I don't think we can argue the dictionary definition, but the way it's used and thought of is not always what Webster's says. Language is ALIVE! #miched
1/2 Harmful
annual tests that are used to measure schools rather than provide feedback for growth is harmful,
"3rd grade reading level" tests (as implemented if FL) where Ss can only show this through a single test
mandatory HS courses that ignore tech courses
#miched
A4 - Set the expectations (standards) for student learning for the class/course - supply the basics needed for a teacher to reach these -- and then get the heck out of the way, only helping when necessary/asked. Trust trained teachers to do what is best for their Ss! #miched
Yes. It seems so difficult for schools to create this structure though, right? I think some fear that the time is not well spent, which can be true. #miched
A4 - I feel like curriculum serves to promote consistency. Autonomy exists to serve flexibility.
The system will beckon for consistency. Individuals will beckon for flexibility.
The balance comes in identifying the areas of need for each. #MichED
A4 - balance requires trust in T autonomy to deliver the curriculum in their way, and it requires that trust is rewarded through positive S outcomes #miched
A4: Balance comes from including teachers in the decision making process. Make the curriculum a framework that allows for teachers to experiment and grow within it. #miched
I like the balance in your reply. Is it fair to set deadlines/expectations to improve efficiency? Avoid the potential for teachers to "lollygag" when given planning time? #miched Asking for a friend. :)
A4 A little late to the party, but a curricular resources to follow is key, esp when asked to do mulitlple dim like math and sci. Ts are master tweakers! And they should tweak based on FA. #miched
A4: I think it’s important to have some continuity across classrooms and grades so students are prepared to move forward successfully. content standards should be met, and similar vocabulary used so students can build from a solid base #miched
One should start with the outcome in mind: what do I want my students to know and how with they show it? Curriculum is designed to do that.
"Teach to the test"=we focus on the standardized state test and only teach exactly what's there. There is so much more to do. #miched
In reply to
@richbacolor, @hs_math_phys, @jrommel, @csteenst
This is also about equity. An established curriculum (lessons, materials, pedagogy) could level the field and still be adaptable to local needs. #MichED
In reply to
@csteenst, @KaelynBullock, @techsavvyed
I would maybe clarify that it isn't what Ts want Ss to know, but what the standards based on research say they should and can understand/know. Curriculum (and the resource) should do this. It doesn't always. #miched
In reply to
@conrad_chris, @richbacolor, @hs_math_phys, @jrommel, @csteenst
The outcome shift I’d like to see is more “figure out” and less “learn about”. I am not interested in kids who can multiple choice. We need more competent problem solvers. #MichED
In reply to
@conrad_chris, @hs_math_phys, @jrommel, @csteenst
I think @mcculloughmg is just saying admin should provide the tools necessary for teacher success, but also trust that trained educators will make things happen. Our students grow and learn best when we allow some freedom, and many Ts are the same. Close, @mcculloughmg ?
In reply to
@csteenst, @mcculloughmg, @mcculloughmg, @mcculloughmg
Exactly, and even the standards aren't always written in a way to best teach/layout that road. That's why T autonomy is necessary to redraw a better map for their kids...as long as they get to the same destination. #Miched
I would maybe clarify that it isn't what Ts want Ss to know, but what the standards based on research say they should and can understand/know. Curriculum (and the resource) should do this. It doesn't always. #miched
In reply to
@conrad_chris, @richbacolor, @hs_math_phys, @jrommel, @csteenst
Alright, last question of the night:
Q5: What is needed for teachers to collaborate and implement a curriculum effectively? Let's finish strong #miched.
A5: Ts need resources, training, time to collaborate, and some space to innovate & have choices within the curriculum. We advocate for Student choice; Ts need some as well. #MichEd
Some T automony. Not, full. Aren't u worried that on top of instruction, you will then be asked to be curricular resource writer? That is a full time job. When are you doing that? And how do you test it's working? Focusing on instructions, not writing makes sense to me. #miched
Yep. Most teachers don't have opportunities to explore outside of their grade level/content area, much less understand and integrate with others. #miched
A5) TIME! isn’t that what will solve the world’s problems. Time and methods to collaborate across grade levels, buildings, districts, counties, etc and TRUST from legislators, parents, administrators that #teacherleaders know what they are doing what is best for kids!. #miched
Some T automony. Not, full. Aren't u worried that on top of instruction, you will then be asked to be curricular resource writer? That is a full time job. When are you doing that? And how do you test it's working? Focusing on instructions, not writing makes sense to me. #miched
