#pln365 Matt from NJ; last big shift was giving my students full choice in their activities for half the PE class period; start day with mini skill lesson then allow for as much choice & voice as possible
Good evening #pln365 crew! James from SC, HS Math T & aspiring admin. Last big change: going standards-based in a traditional grading district. #1stSemester#StillTrying
Hello #pln365 ! Kimberly, Reading Specialist from north TX. I started using #Seesaw with my 3-5 graders to give them voice and choice in how they demonstrated their learning!
Amy Storer, instructional coach, in Montgomery, TX! One big change I made recently as an instructional coach is I started working on plans to begin Lion Prowls on our campus (Learning Walks)!! #pln365
Trevor. Art and literacy teacher from NJ. Last really big change was to switch to a 100% choice art room. Letting kids use and explore their interests at their skill level helps them develop creativity skills meaningfully #pln365
Last big change I made when I was in the classroom was using Snapchat as a tool for students to respond! They recorded videos using the filters, then saved and submitted #pln365
Haven't gotten rid of my desk, but it is pushed against the wall. I plan on clearing it off and making the surface available for Ss to work on! #pln365
A1: Be OK with failure, mistakes, noise, mess, things not going as planned. Giving space for staff and students to fail and try again is helpful in shifting culture. #pln365
A1. Can start with something as simple as classroom furniture. Rearranging or implementing flexible seating. Using what you already have in a different way. Ex. Stools as desks. #pln365
A1: Start small. Book groups with teachers; support and encourage risk-taking; provide new and exciting resources. Reward creativity and chances! #pln365
A1 Innovation should begin with what's best for your students. Learn who your students are and what they need now then figure out how to give them exactly what they need right now.#pln365
A1. Hoping I have done that by switching to standards and promoting its use over traditional grading. Several Ts are starting to use it. Finding new ways to do things in the current box. #innovatewithin#pln365
A1 Try one thing differently, smallest changes can have big impacts sometimes, not worry about instant success, celebrate small wins, focus on how it benefits students and learning #pln365
A1: I truly believe in compelling lessons or “Crafting Engaging Lessons” as the Pirate @burgessdave calls it in #tlap
My students find diverse books very compelling #pln365
A1:
•helping teachers to learn how to use technology in a pedagogical way without being overwhelmed.
•Finding ways to incorporate coding into curriculum in general classes. •Helping Ts see the power of choice. • Flexible Seating
•Standards Based Grading #pln365
Soney here from @friscoisd ! The last big change I made was I gave the big tables to my kids to sit at or around and I meet with my small groups on the floor #pln365
A1: Start small. Book groups with teachers; support and encourage risk-taking; provide new and exciting resources. Reward creativity and chances! #pln365
A1 boil the lesson down to the bare bones 'what the students need to learn or do' and begin to allow them to craft the rest...they're way more creative than we are if we give them the chance #pln365
I agree! Sometimes people try to change too many things and they can't get anything right. It has to focus on what's best for student learning otherwise what's the point. #pln365
A1 try new things in 10-15 minutes. Choice, free-write, passion projects can be done in small doses and can still be effective. Kids would love that time. #pln365
A1: It starts with relationships! Build those meaningful relationships with students, parents, and admins so that they trust you with your out of the box ideas! #pln365
A2 essential will be relative depending on what your school already has...but getting rid of "blocks" of learning I think is essential; life is not segmented into cute buckets of knowledge #pln365
A2: opens mindedness and flexibility are essential for an innovative master schedule! Yes, have a plan but KNOW that it’s ok to deviate in order to better serve ALL students and their personal needs
#pln365
A2 Time for student to do deep meaningful work. 90 minute blocks work well in MS. Also time for teacher planning across content and grade levels. #pln365
A2 As #techdir, I think #edtech can open up scheduling in whole new ways. Mastery based learning, always on education... the set schedule of days needn't apply. I'm learning now and it's way later than school! #pln365
Super late to the party here! Jess from NY, 6th grade Innovation Lab teacher & Middle School Robotics Coach. This year I started a new position with Innovation Lab, having taught FACS for 10 years! #pln365
Hi @gcouros we're having an amazing chat over at #pln365 on systems of innvovation, if you're available to jump in! It would be amazing to hear your thoughts!
A2: More targeted professional development that leads towards innovative thinking. Investment in relationships that leads towards educational conversations which are huge trust builders. Support and Follow-up from admin to remove artificial barriers. #pln365
truth. we have to change that mindset that we are only "teachers"; we do what needs to be done because it needs to be done to benefit the school community #pln365
A2: Flexible learning environments! Regardless of what your scope and sequence suggests for number of days you teach a skill, do what’s best for your kids! They move, I move. It’s their learning experience, not ours. #pln365
A2 on an elementary level building in time for more collaborative planning and visiting others classrooms. We can learn so much from each other if we had time to explore each other’s classrooms #pln365
A2. Time and more time. The chance to observe and learn from others is a must. Other Ts might be trying and doing things you haven’t thought of. #pln365
A3: Pro: Same students + same teachers = discussion of same issues & potential solutions. Con: Same students + same teachers = no potential for anything new. #PLN365
A3: We started Vertical PLCs this year, and I cannot wait to see how they evolve into next year! Attending a conference this summer to learn more about PLCs! #pln365
A3: Our building runs on this model. Students build better relationships with peers in common classes. Ability to develop closer relationships with teachers. Knowing 125 kids versus 250. There is a greater community feeling with teams. #pln365
we all really should do a full-day audit of how time is spent in our schools; we could probably open several blocks of time if we were honest with the amount wasted time we have #pln365
A1: Stert small, which I never do... focus on growth rather than final grades, move away from worksheets and give more activities that do not have predictive answers or solutions. Throw random tasks at them every once in awhile. #pln365
A3 if Ts got to work across the ages/grades it would help bust down the mindset of "those aren't my kids" & create more comittment to EACH Ss learning path #pln365
If there isn't consistency on how teachers communicate with families, parents can get overwhelmed with the different places they need to go to find information. #pln365
A1.2: Tomorrow they pick 2 cards.
Pink card will be what they have to make. Yellow card will be what they have to make it out of!Please someone pick the Whoopie cushion and the kazoo?! Thinking about putting 10 of each to increase chances! #tlap#pln365
A3 one advantage is better vertical articulation of curriculums. Being able to plan across grades allows ts to see data trends, gaps, and areas where content overlaps too closely. #pln365
A3 one advantage is better vertical articulation of curriculums. Being able to plan across grades allows ts to see data trends, gaps, and areas where content overlaps too closely. #pln365
I have taught in a district that had select Ts loop from K-1, and 1-2. Those Ts loved it! Saves time @ beginning of year. Ts know Ss and Ss know Ts. #pln365
Hola #pln365 I'm Jennifer, 7-8 ELL teacher in Alexandria, VA @Sandburg_MS
The latest big change I made to my classroom was to add a 5-laptop station/center. Thanks @chuchoravioso
Also, copying Emily, I got rid of my desk!
A3 Always think good comes from collaboration! Letting Ss collaborate with those above and below their grade, in addition to alongside, gives a whole new perspective. My K daughter has a 5 buddy and loves it! #pln365
Having one mode of communication would help. And having all Ts on board with it too. I am guilty of trying the “new” or “exciting” tool. And, I can see how it would be overwhelming for Ps. #pln365
A4: I would say @Seesaw is fantastic! I am finding a lot of my parents are checking out our class Facebook page! Great ways to have our parents’ engagement #pln365
It would be cool to see a school adopt a model where teachers followed students from grade to grade for the entirety of their time at that school. #pln365
I've had older "visitors" from other grade levels w younger kids and they often take a big bro/sis/Teacher role, especially if they have the knowledge and skills to help #pln365
A4 We have to figure out who are parents are? Do they communicate more via email, text, phone, Facebook dm, etc? It doesn't matter what we want to do or think is innovative if our parents aren't going to respond that way #pln365
A4. I use @RemindHQ to reach everyone quickly with where to access things like HW, announcements. It seems Ss and parents are more apt to read a quick text that go hunting...but not everyone wants to participate. #pln365
If there isn't consistency on how teachers communicate with families, parents can get overwhelmed with the different places they need to go to find information. #pln365
A3: I plan on making many videos for parents who cannot come to meet the teacher night. I’m going to have it on common misunderstandings I have with parents such as my grading policies, (thst ss can redo assignments) and how I assess (not just by one test) #pln365
A4 So many communication sources, so little time! One of the biggest advantages of a good #edtech LMS is a single point of information and contact. Think about how much info you get from your Twitter/FB feed... Ps and Ss should have the same ease of access! #pln365
Q4b: Do you think it's better to have one form of communication that everyone uses, or many different ones so you hopefully reach parents somehow? #pln365
A4: Our district has us put all major info in standardized places. But we need to meet half way w/ Ps and know what they use. But the standard places (Email/Class Webpage) should have everything. #pln365
If there isn't consistency on how teachers communicate with families, parents can get overwhelmed with the different places they need to go to find information. #pln365
A4 we have to meet them where THEY are; most Ps have at least one SM account; innovatively--PHYSICALLY GO TO THEM vs. making them come to the school; host mobile, comm based sessions #pln365
A4b: We need to be in more than 1 place, but not every app that has ever been created. Do what is efficient for you, but will reach the audience. #pln365
My mom looped with a class and took them on a field trip to the beach on the first day of school of the second year with those kids. Best first day ever! #pln365
A4b I think there should be a consistent space/form of communication that everyone knows about, have to find out parent preferences, so maybe 1 for all and then if parents prefer one other, use what is best for them #pln365
A1 Diversifying learning tools in the classroom would help. Providing students with options for completing assignments such as using google docs or possibly recording their work are small steps that would help create innovation. #pln365
A4. I loved using app based communication like remind. We live in a digital age. It was easy to snap a quick pic of a kid learning and send parents a quick note about their students progress. It was easy, personal. #pln365
My Facebook page is on the "private" setting, so not everyone can see the pics. I do a newsletter, with the calendar for the month on the back. ##pln365
