#2PencilChat Archive
The #2PencilChat is a weekly conversation about educational technology. As we enter a more student-centered age, let's talk about using all the tools in our toolboxes to be innovative and dynamic teachers.
Tuesday July 26, 2016
Hey everybody! Sean in St. Aug, FL, 3rd grade. My favorite right now is , tonight's leader. Follow her for ?s!
My phone is dying, but I am here!
Catherine from Fresno CA. Current S to soon be Eng T. Super hot today, over 105 degrees but happy to be hereππ₯
Ready for Fourth Grade Teacher in MN
Hi All! Dianne in NJ here- Currently teaching SpEd Inclusion PreK! have taught K, 1 and 2 in past!
Christy, teacher in training at Concordia University in Portland, OR. I liked nature, art, &animals. Still do.
Trever Reeh from Omaha, NE high school math teacher.
Hi - Marifran, HS librarian from NY. Loved as a kid what I love now: stationery and sundry supplies
I'm hoping to teach high school Spanish or Social Studies.
I LOVED coloring books and very sharp crayons. Also books!
Hey, , Sean here, driving back from in Atlanta with & . Fave? Comix!
A1: my Ss love the Play-Doh I have in my room.
A1: Have a fluffy soccer ball for review games, comes in handy!!
A1 My kids love Lego our puppets/puppet theater.
Q1: Play is the <3 of PreK! My Ss love Dramatic Play! It's great for building Social Skills as well as Play Skills!
A1: Don't have a class yet, but hoping the will enjoy playing with felt puppets I plan to make to assist with presentations
Marble Works were donated to my room last year. I thought they were too primary but my Ss loved them! https://t.co/xz83WjDfhu
2 hours to play time! The crossover event starts tonight with at 9 edt!
A1 I've seen Ss love playing with anything that has COLOR! Ex) crayons, paint, Legos. That was my childhood. Miss it
I loved those marble works! Marble races were so fun!
A1: we have origami paper, colored pencils & coloring books but the fave has to be a bowl of rocks
My middle school Ss love to play! They would love it!
A1 my Ss love our exercise bike.
My PreK Ss LOVE the marble tracks!
I want one of those in my room!
looking for pix of the cairns they built
A1 from her kids loved construction paper. She's driving and I won't let her type
Does anyone have experience with what high schoolers might like to "play" with in class?
A1: my Ss love paint, markers, anything to write with that's different and fun
My MS Ss love stress balls, writing in marker, Play-Doh.....
A1 Hello from Texas my students love play dough and blocks
A1 Hey All: My Ss love legos, blocks, art stuff, board games, books, & all things tech. Oh,& they really love getting outside.
We have one, too. Kids love the bike!
Outside is a favorite at any age! Building....so fun!
I am trying to learn about that as we speak!!!!!
A1: my MS Ss love wooden puzzles as well, or any puzzles really.
I'm loving all the new faces I'm seeing in the this week! Kudos, !
No experience, but I bet they pretty much they love anything elem. kids love.
I would sit and plays with those too!
Thanks! What do you teach in MS? How do you incorporate play-doh?
A2: kickball.....love playing kickball (after lunch, after school)
ELA. I use it as a stress ball. Keeps them occupied for hours!
A2 Basesball, soccer, gymnastics, and riding horsies.
A2: My Ss LOVE coming to school after hours with their family for an event: Book Fair Kick Off, Movie Night, Family Picnics
I so need to learn about this.
We a Family As readers program. Love those family nights!
Riding horses??? At school?
A1: my middle school students love white boards, highlighters and Legos. Use Legos to represent an event or unit
A2: Started a chess club last year, because students were interested.
A2: No students yet, but my favs were clubs. Key club, art club, knitting club, etc. Sports were popular too.
A2 My students tell me they play soccer, baseball and go to the park
Football, soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, all sports
Me too! It's so fun to be able to see the kiddos and families immersed in the school culture!
in math we used it to make conic sections.
White boards, love to draw and erase, draw and erase....
A2 Lots of hockey and football. Gymnastics and Dance. Theater and piano. Love getting invited to their events
A2 Growing up, I always loved the idea of being outside. Anything with hands on. Ss love having fun & meaning memories.
A2: sports and drama are big favorites. Model UN, and computer science and math clubs; board game club.
A2 we whip and nay nay often
When I was a lil baby teacher, I hosted a monthly Family Reading Night. We all loved it..
We have a math club, game club, Odessy of the Mind.
Extracurricular, but not at school...
Mine shout across the field....HI MS GROSS!!!!!!
LOVING the answers tonight! So fun!
Jus' outta college, when I was still a youngin'.
Was that a long time ago? I can't believe I am a VETERAN teacher now!!!!! WHAT???!!!!
My school invites Ss in their PJs and the principal and Ts do read alouds for students in different classrooms
Like a literacy night....love it!
A3: Negotiate something your already going to do and planned, That's fun.
A3: I don't have an answer for this one, but am very excited to see what you all have to say!
not sure it would work for middle school but my elementary kiddo would LOVE it
A3: How about we only have to read 50 pages instead of 100 because we have a long weekend?
A3 I love when kids offer to double down on cleaning or working hard to get a little extra fun time.
A3: If you don't complete your reading log then you have to bring us donuts?
A3 My students are young, but promise to clean up centers to get to go out early we negotiated on the clean part!
A3: In SpEd we are FIRM on no negotiations.. the Ss not so much!
A3 My 4th graders love to negotiate for more recess or social time just for doing what is expected!
Why is that? No negotiations in SpEd?
A3 I bought a no button to use this year. Ha!! For fun! Gotta find a way to have a yes used a little. https://t.co/4uTLlw22F6
Mine love to negotiate for outside time....middle schoolers!
A3: It's sweet when they negotiate bigger, "Instead of making 1 page, can we make a book of 4 pages?"
A3 My students always ask if they work quietly can I put on music... So I do! Google play tween radio!
Q3:when I taught,Ss liked to barter time, music and food."If we work for 25 minutes can we..."& "if we all get a _ on the test"
I just look and act like I'm not ancient. :)
Oh yes....... laughing out loud!!!!!!
A3 The method of behaving and getting those cinnamon cookies before going home always worked. Those are delicious.
Mine love music! Same here.
same "then can we go outside?"
That's what mine do! What grade?
Outside time for MSs? Do they have recess now-a-days? Didn't when I was there!
I am young at heart, age is just a number!
A3: they are like professional negotiators! We need to harness this and use it for good
Ooh yeah, or they offer higher than you were willing to bend for.
We do take them out in nice weather during lunch. I will take them out for class.
With my SpEd Ss, they are working on compliance- so we work on token boards earning tokens for following directions
A3) They love Special days...All day Science/STEAM, PJ day, Readathon day, Storytime w/Mrs Howard, like whole day activities
Oh yes they are! Mine have had tons of practice by the time I get them!
That's what R Kelly said...
Can we just have a day to do nothing? Talk w/ our friends? We work hard. LOL
Since SpEd Ss learn differently, we try to be firm with NO negotiations so they MUST comply and follow directions.
Good heavens.....and the chat was going so well.....sigh......
You will love next question!
Seriously...summer just makes me lose track of time. Hello ! Cathy, edtech specialist in NYC from NJ. https://t.co/rgYpKRNvkK
A4: girls talk about boys and boys talk about girls....all day long in middle school
A4: Weekend plans and relationship dramas. Those are my two guesses.
A4: sports, current events, their lives, things happening at school, movies, books, social media
A3: Who did I follow? Unfollow? Friend? Unfriend?
My G&T Ss like to work but they also like Mrs H. Storytime π
A4: who said want when and posted it then deleted it but someone got a screen shot...
A4 last yr, we had twin sisters and if there was a disagreement we had a sister showdown discussion. https://t.co/0n2HtiMOVk
A3 They talk about their friends and parents
Q4: mine loved sports, especially football and basketball. Ss liked talking about their jobs, their own sports, families.
All kids LOVE story time and I bet you are amazing!
Oh dear.....I had twins this year but always got along.
A4 My Ss like to ask about my daughters since they are around the same age and compare stories of younger siblings.
A4 Pop culture, sports...
A4: My Ss LOVE to compare snacks and make connections through common interests "Raise your hand if you LOVE Paw Patrol!"
A4 Electronics and video games are another hot topic. Along with music and sports events.
it was all about snacks and tv shows that they wanted to watch/eat. Funny stuff. I was judge Haden
Is that a movie I assume?
A4 I've heard about music, favorite places to visit, food is a big one. They are so engaged & that's the key!
Will you watch?????? You will love it! Ex. The Walking Dead
A4 Last year, a lot of my students joined me in my obsession.
A4 My kids make a lot of "plans" (recess and play dates) and like to retell things that happens either yesterday or forever ago
A4: Ss talk sports, games, , , and tech. I'm sure that will take over this school year
A3: Spring Fling....dances.....sporting events.....dating.....
same! They loved talking about travel or places they lived. I learn a ton in the process
A4: mine talk about classes they like/don't like....HW in other classes.....
That's impressive, even third graders?
A4: politics, current events - things can get pretty heated in the library
Some of mine LOVE debating politics! It's going to be interesting when we head back...
A4: Bway musicals, weekend houses, bday parties, sleepovers
Oh yes....the sleepovers!
A3 I don't think we ever negotiate.Often I surprise them: Hey, it's barefoot day,knock off the shoes. Movie at lunch, who's in?
yes-they love those comparisons and space to vent
A4: sometimes mine get serious and talk about body image, weight, looks, etc.
Yep... I had to drop out the swear words in audacity so we could sing along.
A4) It's all about them, their activities, trips/vacations, home life, they ask about my childhood too https://t.co/JbLputcSdK
A4: Like it or not, playdates and birthday parties also tend to be a hot topic of the little ones
Makes me feel good to know that students know enough about politics & current events to have heated convos
you should see how heated debates get in 8th grade civics
I do the movies at lunch once in a while too!
Building connections with you!!!!! How sweet.
A5: love going to their phones....I will just Google it.
A5 Books, magazines, and Bing searches.
I have never used that...heard of it.
A5 also, we do gummy bear anchor charts to get input from all. The magic of food!
Bing searches? Students actually know what Bing is? Seems everyone is all about the Google.
Welcome to anyone who may have come late that I missed! So happy you are here!
Food is the secret weapon. They LOVE any kind of food.
Please expand on what a gummy bear anchor chat is.
A5: well, 12 years ago FB was just starting, MySpace was the thing, and the Internet/Google were still looked at suspiciously.
So many stories start, "On ..." lol
after this chat, go directly to and check it out. Game changer for sure in the classroom.
I never did the My Space. How funny...
A5: My Ss live for of BrainPop Jr! That is the research to their next big ideas!
Brainpop, I used to use that in the elementary grades.
A5.1: these days HS kids will Google it, check social media, Wikipedia...it's amazing how quickly things have changed.
Literally at their fingertips.
Our school is on Microsoft stuff, so the for schools search works nicely, knocks out ads.
A5: Mine like to ask each other... (sometimes I think they just want to talk......)
A5: SnapChat - a number of Ss follow news providers for their stories - it's not all vomiting rainbows
So important to teach them critical thinking skills young so they don't believe the first thing in their search!
I give a gummy bear for responses on an anchor chart. Topic: sun facts about it= gummy bear. :)
works for me so I know it works for them
amazing how many different answers a class can get to the very same question using Google - the plot thickens
Oh I bet knows about that!
You are my spirit animal.
A5: We set up a classroom Twitter feed and on a few occasions tweeted with different folks to get answers. Empowering.
had no idea! But now I know where I'll be surfing the web post chat! TY!
A6 My kids loved learning about friction but timing themselves going down the slide sitting on different materials
A6 I think they loved learning about the science experiments that we did
I did...it might still be there ππππ
let me know if you need help. Love!!
A6: As a student I loved our Civil War unit. We role played in groups. Wrote journals. I was a northern lady. : )
A6 Tours of nevR B4 seen places: tickets requird, WonkaDay, Red carpet Trashion Show,Hollywood party of Newbery/Caldecott awrds
A6: Recreating Secret Annex.
Made it! Rita in Eugene. Hello chatters!
Putting kids in character.....awesome!
Such a good book! Found it online, so great for "hooks".
thank you! Thank you for being awesome!!
A5: We used to have Ss gather pre-research ideas from
A6 Author Study on Patricia Polacco. I adore her and my passion came out in my teaching. Ss were engaged and excited!
A6: 2nd Gr. Research Biography Shares! Written & Edited on laptops, dressed in characters, families came to see books. So fun!
I have read it like 4 times. All marked up!
The best part was they had us "decipher" telegrams. They used an old stapler. Still remember today!
A6: WWI trench warfare simulation, Oklahoma land run, day in a factory assembly line, 1920s Jazz cafe; shark tank project
THAT is creating an experience!
A6) Making blood, oatmeal/pantyhose intestine activ., build. roller coasters & testing their catapults w/ Halloween candy
A5: We are right next to . Kids do lots in CP- bridge, bird, systems, photography, inspiration for art
WHAT???? We are doing that when I visit!
This is beyond fun! I cannot believe we are almost finished!
Mostly kids like gross stuff, probably more than anything else!
thanks for hosting! Great topic and fun conversations. One of my favorite chats
A6: I made fake blood once and we dripped it on floor to see what it would look like.
A6: teaching Global 9 & 10 we talked about human rights topics throughout time. Ss were so interested in why things happened.
You are so kind! Thank you!
. Quite a visual- panty hose intestines. That is so cool & authentic.
They love history too. Science and SS.
after you check out please check out . Ss love both!!
A6 My ears, I want to listen more and not just hear
. A6: Did a demo lesson once in rm. w new carpet. Ss got Oobleck all over the place. Yup!
A6: and I did an environmental issue/biomes project in Gr5 that was AMAZING! I hope the Ss remembered that
Killing the moderator game on the ! https://t.co/qxKWSmMLZo
This is beyond fun! I cannot believe we are almost finished!
A6.1: they also loved learning about the medieval ages via Neapolitan ice cream (3 flavors/3 time periods mixing).ππ
Love making that stuff! LOL
A7 I'm checking out and Learn to code a drone.
A7: Humor! Start of year (& mid.. & end) can be stressful but approaching it all with a sense of humor gets Ss (&Ts!) through
Making you proud????? Yeah!!! So fun!!!!
A7 is excited about and and continuing
A7 , low tech maker space, great classroom furniture.
Come visit (or teach at) my school! We're right across the street from the park!
. Awesome! Now I'll need a drone tutor, plus my mac tutor. Gads!
I think this was my first pencil chat, but thank you for all the great ideas
. Oh, wonderful. Beautiful for the littles.
A6: Ss LOVE the unit in Gr3
Sorry - one false move with a caramel apple snowcone and my afternoon was rescheduled.
Oh no! Glad to have you for a few minutes!!!!
A7 love and really excited to try this year. Infusing into my room
A7: any tool that involves building relationships
A6: (most) Ss LOVE coding!
Tons of resources shared! If you missed anything be sure to go back and look!!!!!!
He came in for one response.....not sure?
T.hanks! to for leading tonight's chat, and thank you to all of you for joining us. You are all my favorites!
I (and my Ss) absolutely ADORE - we use them for Brain Breaks AT LEAST twice a day!
It has been an absolute pleasure spending the last hour with you! Thank you so much!
. Such a pleasure to join this fabulous group. Every week is a fav.
Thanks for the great ideas and resources. Feeling inspired!
you did last night too, yes? That was my first time there I'm fairly certain
A7: Four weeks away from the start of school...still working on a favorite. Could very possibly be
