#FLedchat is a virtual meeting place using Twitter. Educators across the state of Florida come together on Wednesdays at 8pm EST to discuss the topics of the week.
Howdy all, my name is Dene, a teacher in Orlando FL who is excited about summer recuperation and excited to experience some diversity also next month. Welcome! I will serve as your moderator on this fine evening! #FLEdChat
As we populate the chat,..it's really about the conversation tonight and pause to reflect. I am coming from multiple angles tonight, but diversity can be quite broad.. #FLEdChat
Welcome to #FLEdChat. I am excited about this topic always! The diversity train has pulled into the station. All Aboard! Your ticket for entry - Tell us one thing about the past school year that reflected diversity! #FLEdChat
One thing that reflected diversity for me this past school year, was the variety of tools and approaches I tried with students, to investigate their potential for learning. #FLEdChat
Q1: Plants come in many varieties, are equipped to support themselves in various ways, make their own food and protect themselves. If you were a plant, what kind of plant would you be and why? #FLEdChat
Q1: Plants come in many varieties, are equipped to support themselves in various ways, make their own food and protect themselves. If you were a plant, what kind of plant would you be and why? #FLEdChat
One of the activities that reflected diversity in my school last year was when my students went to their families and learned about their heritage and family valuesto make a family coat of arms poster for the art class. #FLEdChat
I think it was a mixture of student choice and the cultures represented in the classroom. I wasn't there for the opening of the project, but had fun helping with the technology. #FLedChat
Ahhh, novel idea. I'd love to see those. There's nothing like learning about where you've come from in order to have a greater vision for where you can go! Outstanding! #FLEdChat
Well it definitely opens windows and doors for the arrival of perspective and how students can learn to appreciate others. Very nice. And where would we be without our tech! #FLEdChat
A1: I would be a redwood tree because because they provide shelter 2 many other species and probably have many stories to tell as the witness so many changes around them throughout their lifetimes. #FLEdChat
Q1: Plants come in many varieties, are equipped to support themselves in various ways, make their own food and protect themselves. If you were a plant, what kind of plant would you be and why? #FLEdChat
A1: If I were a plant, I would like to think I would be something like an aloe plant. Not necessarily pretty, but supportive and helpful to others. #FLedChat
A1: I like the idea of a few plants/flowers. But maybe a Palm tree, because I can be flexible, doing my best to bring calm..and to stay standing. #FLEdChat
A2: Well I am a singer, songwriter, actor, #USAF veteran, philosopher...Indian from both sides of my family and recently discovered some Jamaican roots... #FLEdChat
A2: A strong base (my PLN) is always a good start to any soup. Throw in some veggies (folks from outside of my comfort zone) and some amazing spices (conversations outside of my comfort zone) and I've got one great diversity soup. #FLedChat
A2: Good question! I think the ingredients that make up my diversity soup is open-mindedness understanding, values,perspectives, and most of all respect. People are unique in many different ways and everybody deserves a acceptance so that would be the topping on my soup #FLEdChat
Wow! I never knew...Jamaican and Indian. When I did my DNA test I was SO hoping for something other than only European, but no such luck :(. I did find out who my grandfather is though, because my dad was adopted. #FLedChat
A2: Well I am a singer, songwriter, actor, #USAF veteran, philosopher...Indian from both sides of my family and recently discovered some Jamaican roots... #FLEdChat
Q3: Community might be defined as realizing, ideating and actualizing "coming together." What communities or kinds of communities are you a part of? #FLEdChat
Ooooo...Attiya jumped in the deep end of the diversity pool tonight. Character diversity is the BOMB. To me it is the true essence of why diversity is so important, WHO we are... #FLEdChat
EdCamp Community and EdCamp Florida, Ethos Educator Group (hee hee), ISTE PLNs, Flagler County Schools (yay!), and St. Augustine community. I know I'm missing a bunch. #FLedChat
Q3: Community might be defined as realizing, ideating and actualizing "coming together." What communities or kinds of communities are you a part of? #FLEdChat
I follow those posts, you do have a diverse bunch and it's such a joy to know that we have so much to gain from investing in them. love that curiosity! #FLEdChat
A3: Being that I am transitioning between both schools & homes right now, I have a larger collection of communities than I normally would. 2 school towns, 2 home towns, 2 faculties, not to mention my PLN, edcamps, Google Trainers, CS educators. The list can be endless. #FLedChat
A3: I think I'm part of a community of people at my school and on social media who want to create a changing the world. I'm part of my own ethnic community where we get together and celebrate life and its big events through food, music, and beautiful attire. #FLEdChat
Q3: Community might be defined as realizing, ideating and actualizing "coming together." What communities or kinds of communities are you a part of? #FLEdChat
A3: I think I'm part of a community of people at my school and on social media who want to create a changing the world. I'm part of my own ethnic community where we get together and celebrate life and its big events through food, music, and beautiful attire. #FLEdChat
Q3: Community might be defined as realizing, ideating and actualizing "coming together." What communities or kinds of communities are you a part of? #FLEdChat
A2: Being open, aware, and present would be key to my diversity “soup”. Being Hispanic and working in a school with 100% Hispanic population, I still learn daily. #FLedChat
They all really impact me at different levels of my life. And all work together in my mind, heart and soul. Each shape me, push me, inspire me. Maybe the least would be neighborhood. #Fledchat
You know I like asking questions, picking brains and seeing perspective. I am glad to know that each of your communities impact you differently but yet wholly move you forward! #FLEdChat
A4: We have to look at the differences within each of our communities. We need to recognize and appreciate those differences. We may all be in the #FLedChat community, but we each bring something special and unique to the mix.
I am like that too...love to probe, go deeper. Funny, at youth group tonight we were talking about personalities, and how we are different from one another. Fits perfect with this conversation. #FLEdChat
You know I like asking questions, picking brains and seeing perspective. I am glad to know that each of your communities impact you differently but yet wholly move you forward! #FLEdChat
A4: I believe that I've tried to engage, highlight and even promote my students' various backgrounds such that there is a desire to listen and learn. #FLEdChat
A2: Invite others to be a part of your community and accept them for who they are. Do not jump to conclusions about a certain person or a group based on your preconceived notions. But most of all "Love and Kindness" #FLEdChat
I am like that too...love to probe, go deeper. Funny, at youth group tonight we were talking about personalities, and how we are different from one another. Fits perfect with this conversation. #FLEdChat
You know I like asking questions, picking brains and seeing perspective. I am glad to know that each of your communities impact you differently but yet wholly move you forward! #FLEdChat
A4: Diversity brings so many perspectives, which automatically stretches our thinking. It brings in new information, and makes us grow. Inspires us! #FLEdChat
You are right. Often the speedy discounting of a person tends to rid communities of valuable insights and contributions, if only you'd let them show you who they are.. #FLEdChat
Q5: If we followed signs to great examples of diversity and/or community, where might we end up? (literal examples or hypothetical thoughts work too) #FLEdChat
I can't even begin to tell you how crucial this is, and the turmoil, fear, etc that is felt when people are not accepted based on things they cannot change. #FLEdChat
A5: Hopefully we would wind up in our classrooms. Some of us might end up in places we didn't think existed. (Which would provide a valuable learning opportunity) Others might end up right where they started because they get it. #FLedChat
Q5: If we followed signs to great examples of diversity and/or community, where might we end up? (literal examples or hypothetical thoughts work too) #FLEdChat
Outstanding. I find such value in being intentional. My goal is to infuse some element of diversity and community into lessons from now on. #FLEdChat#beintentional
A3: I am apart of many different communities. From my school, where I live, groups of friends, #pln, etc. I try to expand my communities so I can grow and learn from others. #fledchat
Q6: Diversity & Community Tour: You've been tasked with the identification of FIVE places you'd go in the world on your tour experience, local or abroad or both. DOn't forget to say why you chose those locations. #FLEdChat
Yes yes I hear that. I believe somehow the term continues to be limited to one thing. Although underneath that one thing, there are so many things. We need to dig deeper. #FLEdChat
A6: I would love to visit with @lmeinert in Alaska, @blambson in Arizona. Both their areas have a different type of diversity. I would love to visit inner city schools from large cities. I would also love to visit some of the very rural schools in the isolated midwest. #FLedChat
While I can do all of these via social media, I would LOVE to be able to visit in person. There's a lot to be said about being in the middle of an experience. #FLedChat
A5: I am not sure we may know where we would end, but we would appreciate our communities more and maybe lean on each other more often in our communities. #fledchat
A6: I love the culture of Japan, having been there a few times. I look forward to experiencing more, immersing myself in culture and diversity. It changes me/ #FLEdChat
A6: I would like to visit Egypt because of its great history of people and civilization. Then I would like to visit one country in each continent except Antarctica 2 learn more about other souls that live in this world +I want to broaden my horizons. #FLEdChat
Q6: Diversity & Community Tour: You've been tasked with the identification of FIVE places you'd go in the world on your tour experience, local or abroad or both. DOn't forget to say why you chose those locations. #FLEdChat
You are right! There are great examples of a variety of diversity right here in Florida. However, there's also something to be said for getting out of one's own backyard. #FLedChat
A6: Oaxaca (MX)-learn about my own roots, Cape Town (SA)-always wanted to go, India-discover new parts and people, Los Angeles, CA-cultural melting pot, and Mauritius-original home of the dodo and overall interesting island #FLedChat
We are thinking similarly. Something about experiencing different places that empowers you to bring people closer together, power in knowing. #FLEdChat
A6:
1. Cambodia and Vietnam- Beauty and how different it is from where we live
2. Africa (anywhere that has a safari)
3. Italy again (there is a pair of shoes I want in Venice that I didn't get last time...lol)
Can't decide on the last two. There are so many :). #FLedChat
A6: Oaxaca (MX)-learn about my own roots, Cape Town (SA)-always wanted to go, India-discover new parts and people, Los Angeles, CA-cultural melting pot, and Mauritius-original home of the dodo and overall interesting island #FLedChat
Q8: Have you heard about @Belouga_ ? If you haven't, visit https://t.co/8xwrpdu0JE. How can global connections help us focus on diversity and build community? #FLEdChat
A8: Until #ST4T I had not heard of @Belouga_ Love things that connect us. Love showing students how alike we are, and how fun it is to celebrate and share our differences. #FLEdChat
A6: I am going to pick Spain, Ireland to learn more abt my family history, Ghana learn more abt the culture & history, China bc the US owes them lots of money and we buy a lot of products from them and Brazil wld like to lrn more abt the culture. #fledchat
Our conversation has come to a close for the evening, but doesn't ever end. Join us in August for the next conversation about diversity and community as we prepare to return to school! #FLEdChat Thanks for joining us!
A8: Learning about the program now. It’s important for our scholars to know there is a big wide world beyond the four walls of the classroom. Opening them up to experiences to learn and grow with other cultures is one more way for them to be globally literate. #FLedChat
