#personalizedPD chat. A fast-paced, fun chat to discuss personalized professional development for educators. We discuss what it is, why it's better than traditional PD, how to create personalized PD opportunities, how to scale it from individuals to districts, and how to inspire it from individuals to districts to want more and more of it. Hosted each week by Jason Bretzmann @jbretzmann and Kenny Bosch @KennyBosch and moderated each week by a guest moderator. 8pm Central each Tuesday.
Thank you for joining us tonight for #personalizedPD
Please welcome our guest moderator Amanda Faubion @MrsFaubs
Thank you for leading the #personalizedPD chat!
Hello! I am Kenny Bosch, co-host and co-author of the #personalizedPD book. https://t.co/UKHXahPlrl
Thank you for joining us tonight.
Take a minute and invite some friends to join us.
Can we talk about writing? I'd like to talk about writing. Mandy is a great writer. And a great teacher of writers and a great teacher of teachers of writing. #personalizedPD
Can we talk about writing? I'd like to talk about writing. Mandy is a great writer. And a great teacher of writers and a great teacher of teachers of writing. #personalizedPD
A1 - Time is really the hard part for me. I want students to understand the research process and engage fully with their chosen subject matter, but that takes a lot of time away from other topics that we need to cover. It is hard to find a balance. #personalizedpd
A1: I teach PreK. They can't write, per se, but they draw. Today, we were coloring pictures of adult partridges because we are incubating their eggs. I love the way they used their imaginations to color the adult picture! #PersonalizedPD
A1 I think Ts struggle with the balance between writing for a grade and writing authentically. Writing for an authentic audience could help. #personalizedPD
A1) My challenges are getting them to write anything more than copying our prompt. Few if my students have had to do any "free" writing. I often let them express their thoughts and I will write them so they can copy. #personalizedpd
A1 - Time is really the hard part for me. I want students to understand the research process and engage fully with their chosen subject matter, but that takes a lot of time away from other topics that we need to cover. It is hard to find a balance. #personalizedpd
A1: I think one of the most challenging things about creating authentic writing experiences for my students is finding opportunities to make their writing public - real writing has a real audience beyond the teacher #PersonalizedPD
A1: I teach PreK. They can't write, per se, but they draw. Today, we were coloring pictures of adult partridges because we are incubating their eggs. I love the way they used their imaginations to color the adult picture! #PersonalizedPD
Pre-communicative writing is still writing! Those scribbles and attempts at letters mean they understand print has meaning. PreK teachers are crucial! #personalizedPD
Plus it encourages them to use their imaginations!! Someone will say, "That's not how it looks!" I'll say, "I love how you used your imagination!" Now they're saying it back to their peers!! #PersonalizedPD
Wow, sounds like Scout's teacher Miss Caroline in TKAM. Can't believe any teacher would have a prob with students getting more practice in any skill they want them to learn #PersonalizedPD
A1: It's a dichotomous challenge in my civics classes. Write for this "scenario" & it can feel contrived. Write to your Congressman and it can feel scary. #ThisIsReal#personalizedPD
Plus it encourages them to use their imaginations!! Someone will say, "That's not how it looks!" I'll say, "I love how you used your imagination!" Now they're saying it back to their peers!! #PersonalizedPD
A2: For me, in PreK, typically it is whole-group, as an arrival activity. However, I also have a writing center and an arts & crafts center they can choose at free time. #PersonalizedPD
A2) I make sure my students write by hand and type. I try to give them at least 20 minutes every day to write. Some will, most try to avoid it. #PersonalizedPD
A1: My Ss said I need a sign that says, "Actually, Yes." so I can just point to it on the many occasions that I'm asked, "Are we actually gonna'..." #Authentic#personalizedPD
A2 - I try to spend time writing with them to make sure that I give them enough time. If I can't finish an assignment in the allotted time then I can assume that they cannot either. I also try to make time for writing every day. #personalizedpd
It's so clear when kids have only been offered prescriptive writing opportunities. They must have the chance to write untethered at times to build voice, stamina, and to feel empowered as authors. #PersonalizedPD
A2 my students do writing outside of class using @Kidblog and I use comments to give them feedback as well as in person feedback, if writing in class, I keep moving around and interacting while they write #personalizedpd
A)1 I have a wide variety of students. Most can't write. So we do a lot of questions and answers out loud. When I taught RSP it was easier. I would let a student a day pic a topic and we would rotate between fiction and non fiction. Then I woullet it flow!#PersonalizedPD
I try to keep my writing lessons truly mini and focused on one or two skills at the most - it's crucial that they get time to practice IN class where they can ask questions and get support #PersonalizedPD
A2 Teaching procedures, for one. Methods for efficient, authentic, timely feedback are also critical. Google Docs has been helpful for this but there are lots of ways! @Flipgrid anyone? #personalizedPD
A2: I maximize instructional time by making flipped videos of instructions and having students watch them at home so that we use all of class time for the actual activity. #personalizedPD
A2: Make sure the mini-lesson isn't a maxi-lesson. Choose a lesson focus and stick to it. The student writing time is paramount to teacher ideas about writing. Build in time to share. #PersonalizedPD
Truth! The more cross-curricular writing students get, the more they can practice the skills and see that writing is about more than just literature #PersonalizedPD
A2 my students do writing outside of class using @Kidblog and I use comments to give them feedback as well as in person feedback, if writing in class, I keep moving around and interacting while they write #personalizedpd
A2)I will refer back to my old class again. U can write about any topic, even math! I had the students write crazy stories about a math problem, then solve each others. #PersonalizedPD
I've published Ss writing via yudu or createspace or had Ss engage in a written debate via https://t.co/fORvs0PiH6 with out of state Ss to give it more authenticity. #personalizedPD
Q3: Do you have a blog or some other format where you can be reflective? How might writing more yourself help you to relate to and identify more closely with the writers in your classroom? #personalizedPD
A2: I taught language arts for 9 yrs & my own goal was always at least half the period actually writing and/or reading. Of course, did not always make it, but helped me really focus on my lesson design to make it happen! #PersonalizedPD
Authentic audience is key for kiddos these days. They see through BS. Blog posts, (digital) penpals, SM posts, letters, e-mails, writing to hang in the local @SUBWAY...Anywhere writing can be published to the world. #PersonalizedPD
A2)I will refer back to my old class again. U can write about any topic, even math! I had the students write crazy stories about a math problem, then solve each others. #PersonalizedPD
A2) I make sure my students write by hand and type. I try to give them at least 20 minutes every day to write. Some will, most try to avoid it. #PersonalizedPD
Awesome!! My AP Lang class has been blogging about op-eds and reading others students' blogs. Great to learn from other models, see other perspectives, and know they are writing for an authentic audience #aplangchat
A3. No blog, but I journal. I like the feel of putting a pen to paper. Writing helps me synthesize when I reflect by categorizing big rocks, catapulting new ideas, and catharting (I made that up) experiences from the week #personalizedPD
A3: Here's the link to mine! I'm not very consistent. I kind of wait until there's something I feel strongly about. #PersonalizedPDhttps://t.co/zwOMCvPqA7
A3: Here's the link to mine! I'm not very consistent. I kind of wait until there's something I feel strongly about. #PersonalizedPDhttps://t.co/zwOMCvPqA7
A4: Why yes I do! Waiting on logo before I push publish. And yes itβs perhaps the best way to encourage the vulnerability implicit to writing at any level. #personalizedPD
A3 - A non-writing teacher does not foster a writing classroom. Students need to see their teacher writing whether through professional or informal means (ex. grants and pubs, or blogs and twitter). However, most important is modeling for students in class. #personalizedpd
Oh, my gosh- I have just recently in the past two years discovered how wonderful it is to write about my classroom practice. The reflection and ability to communicate teaching ideas to other educators has been so rewarding #PersonalizedPD
Q3: Do you have a blog or some other format where you can be reflective? How might writing more yourself help you to relate to and identify more closely with the writers in your classroom? #personalizedPD
Awesome!! My AP Lang class has been blogging about op-eds and reading others students' blogs. Great to learn from other models, see other perspectives, and know they are writing for an authentic audience #aplangchat
A3. The act of writing reminds me of the struggle that's naturally intwined with writing. It's so cognitively complex. For kids, it's even more so bc they're in the early phases of learning how to write and how to express ideas #personalizedPD
A3) If writing a blog does not require all of the aspects of writing, I do not know what does. Much like new learning. If we stop learning new things, we have trouble relating to our students issues. #PersonalizedPD
My favorite tech tool is still @teamdoceri I take pictures of their writing, put the picture in the background and make both voice comments and "write" on their work and then email it to them.
#personalizedPD
A2 Teaching procedures, for one. Methods for efficient, authentic, timely feedback are also critical. Google Docs has been helpful for this but there are lots of ways! @Flipgrid anyone? #personalizedPD
A3 I do have a blog site, www..rdene915.com and tend to talk to text a lot of ideas into blogs, work on them and reflect using them. It helps me to brainstorm ideas to help Ss get started if needed. #personalizedpd
So true - I try to write the assignments I'm asking my students to do. It gives me an idea of the time it might take and difficulties they might encounter - makes me so much more effective in helping them #PersonalizedPD
My friend @MrKirklandPTHS turned me on to Doceri... amazing tool. He uses it in his math classes expertly. Wish my environment were more iPad heavy for that single app alone, or that I could find something that worked with our Chromebooks... #PersonalizedPD
In reply to
@kennybosch, @teamdoceri, @MrKirklandPTHS
Q4: Does your school/state require you to have any reflective writing based on instructional practices as part of professional development? If so, how has this had an impact? If not, do you think it is necessary? #personalizedPD
A3: The more I expose myself to writing for different purposes and specific writing skills necessary for the workplace, the better off I am teaching my students what they will need in the future. #PersonalizedPD
I've grown so much from writing about my practice, and an unforeseen benefit has been connecting with other educators through my writing. A few of my @edutopia articles have been a great springboard for discussion and collaboration with others #PersonalizedPD
It's time for the #Lurker shout out!
We love our lurkers at #personalizedPD
We know this chat can move fast and make you feel like you just got upended, but we would love to hear your thoughts. Join in, or not, it's cool.
You can bring up student work on your computer and see it on your iPad using Doceri. Doceri will mirror your computer. You could look at a Ss work on a Google Doc and still make a "My Recording" using Doceri. #personalizedPD
My friend @MrKirklandPTHS turned me on to Doceri... amazing tool. He uses it in his math classes expertly. Wish my environment were more iPad heavy for that single app alone, or that I could find something that worked with our Chromebooks... #PersonalizedPD
In reply to
@kennybosch, @teamdoceri, @MrKirklandPTHS
Reflective writing is mandatory. For me. By me. If I donβt reflect I do not grow and if Iβm not growing my kids arenβt learning. #personalizedPD A4
A3: Here's the link to mine! I'm not very consistent. I kind of wait until there's something I feel strongly about. #PersonalizedPDhttps://t.co/zwOMCvPqA7
A4 In NJ we have professional development plans and student growth objectives but they both might better be labeled "instruments" than "reflective writing based on instructional practices." #personalizedPD
A4. Our district's evaluation process requires reflective writing based on peer observation and 360* feedback. I love it - helps Ts narrow their focus by putting it in writing and emphasizes goal-setting based on evidence. Moves from "I think/feel" to "I know" #PersonalizedPD
A4) In California, as a public K-12 teacher, the state no longer requires continuing education. As a University Professor, yes, research and writing are very important. #PersonalizedPD
And for the littles, shared and interactive writing provide a scaffolded writing experience. I believe it would work similarly with secondary kiddos, just diff. tools. #PersonalizedPD
We are not required to do reflection on our practice. I think it's extremely valuable, but I think a more effective tactic than requiring it would be supporting it by providing time and resources and connecting teachers to discuss their practice #PersonalizedPD
Q4: Does your school/state require you to have any reflective writing based on instructional practices as part of professional development? If so, how has this had an impact? If not, do you think it is necessary? #personalizedPD
After many years I started a blog as well. Itβs so healthy to question your own sharing of ideas to empathize with how students might be feeling (adult feelings magnified by 100!) when putting their work out to the world.
If you want to write more (or even if you don't) submit an education story for the Stories in EDU book contest. https://t.co/UcV0UXckaW The categories:
1.Overcoming obstacles
2.Relationships
3.Voice&Choice
4.Hooks
5. #edtech use
6.That One Kid...
#personalizedPD
A5 Anytime you can get multiple teachers, subjects, and interests involved increases the authenticity of the work for the S. It goes from "this is due for English" to "this project I've been working on"! #personalizedPD
A5: Sometimes the activity stalls the content; sometimes the content stalls the activity. If we write across the curriculum then the content follows the writing, not the other way around. #PersonalizedPD
A5) They will be able to see and write about more connections. The more we know, the more we understand how connected things and people are. #personalizedPD
A5: Ss are likely to be less inhibited by the process or "rules" of writing when responding in other content areas. Additional points for Ss who can write about something they're passionate about. #PersonalizedPD
A5 - "Real World" writing is cross-curricular. By opening up student choice on topics, coaching students through the writing process, and being supportive the entire time, students will engage and hopefully be excited about publishing. #personalizedpd
I think it's crucial if we want teachers to develop. You can't mandate something like that and expect it to have an effect; you need to support it and nurture it #PersonalizedPD
If you want to write more (or even if you don't) submit an education story for the Stories in EDU book contest. https://t.co/UcV0UXckaW The categories:
1.Overcoming obstacles
2.Relationships
3.Voice&Choice
4.Hooks
5. #edtech use
6.That One Kid...
#personalizedPD
If you want to write more (or even if you don't) submit an education story for the Stories in EDU book contest. https://t.co/UcV0UXckaW The categories:
1.Overcoming obstacles
2.Relationships
3.Voice&Choice
4.Hooks
5. #edtech use
6.That One Kid...
#personalizedPD
If you want to write more (or even if you don't) submit an education story for the Stories in EDU book contest. https://t.co/UcV0UXckaW The categories:
1.Overcoming obstacles
2.Relationships
3.Voice&Choice
4.Hooks
5. #edtech use
6.That One Kid...
#personalizedPD
And when they do more cross-curricular real world writing, they'll realized that writing is something that real people do, for real reasons. #relevance#PersonalizedPD
I think that what you said, Sarah, is just the point. Make a day each week that you set aside to write your blog and that is what you do no matter what. I use Wednesdays as my day.
#personalizedPD
A5: our Ts are doing awesome work w disciplinary literacy....the more opps students have to write as scientists, mathematicians, engineers, historians, economists, architects, etc....the more doors we open to all kinds of authentic publishing in every discipline #PersonalizedPD
Q6: At a time when educators are told to not grade/correct poor handwriting, spelling, and grammatical errors, how have you gone about addressing these concerns with your students? #personalizedPD
You betcha. Click on any of the "Contest" links & they will take you to the "Fine print" https://t.co/qcPmZOOhnt#personalizedPD About 1000-4000 words. You get a complimentary copy of the final book. April 29 is first-round due date. We're flexible unless you need us not to be!
A6 - By addressing them in terms of audience. If a student understands that their final product will be viewed, read, or heard by an audience other than their teacher, then they are more likely to make changes. Also one-on-one coaching with students helps. #personalizedpd
A6) I will continue to work with students and adults to improve their writing craft. In Academia, you are evaluated on your writing ability. But, look at @peterhreynolds . Penmanship is variable but spelling and structure is important. #PersonalizedPD
Well - and this is from an HS Eng teacher's perspective - I mostly focus on content and structure with my ss writing. If there are spec grammar issues, I may do a mini-lesson for the class and I conference with my ss indiv, but I need to pick priorities #PersonalizedPD
Q6: At a time when educators are told to not grade/correct poor handwriting, spelling, and grammatical errors, how have you gone about addressing these concerns with your students? #personalizedPD
A6 You are judged by your ability to communicate. Poor grammar = poor communication. Though the #techdir in me says "meh" to handwriting and you can spell most words "G-o-o-g-l-e" #personalizedPD
Agree, Matthew. @jbretzmann and others have said, tell Ss that they are not making their work for us, but for the world to see. If they understand that anyone could view their work they tend to try harder. #personalizedPD
A6 - By addressing them in terms of audience. If a student understands that their final product will be viewed, read, or heard by an audience other than their teacher, then they are more likely to make changes. Also one-on-one coaching with students helps. #personalizedpd
A6: The grammar part I hammered in 6th grade and cont. thru 7th and 8th. By the time I had them again as Juniors, We could focus more on style and organization. Ss felt papers were easier to write. #personalizedPD
Q6: At a time when educators are told to not grade/correct poor handwriting, spelling, and grammatical errors, how have you gone about addressing these concerns with your students? #personalizedPD
A6: embed the instruction in more authentic ways (i.e. during the agenda for the day, or in the morning message) best if you highlight the way meaning can change with a misspelled word or incorrect grammar usage. It matters. #PersonalizedPD
Also: Does your story entertain or inspire? Does it tell us a larger truth about education or humanity? The awesome stories that have been submitted all do that. Most of our EDU stories do those things, don't you think? Jot your favorite one down and click submit #personalizedPD
A6: Also, providing multiple opps for students to have an outside audience helped them to care more for their writing, because it was a reflection of their voice. #personalizedpd
Who told me that?! Those things are my state standards. The way teachers hold students accountable may vary, but it's important for kids to understand that conventions matter in the publication process. #PersonalizedPD
Good to hear that you were able to focus on that earlier, Jarod. In many districts teachers are not allowed to correct/grade it at any level. #personalizedPD
A6: The grammar part I hammered in 6th grade and cont. thru 7th and 8th. By the time I had them again as Juniors, We could focus more on style and organization. Ss felt papers were easier to write. #personalizedPD
Q6: At a time when educators are told to not grade/correct poor handwriting, spelling, and grammatical errors, how have you gone about addressing these concerns with your students? #personalizedPD
Exactly. It is getting easier and easier to have students find a global audience for their work, so why wouldn't a teacher engage writing in this way? #PersonalizedPD
Yes! An audience other than the teacher really ups the ante and motivates students to pay more attention to polishing all aspects of their writing #PersonalizedPD
A6: Also, providing multiple opps for students to have an outside audience helped them to care more for their writing, because it was a reflection of their voice. #personalizedpd
A6) With the population of ss I have we focus on that a lot. It frustrates me if I can't read their writing. I tell my ss that if you can't write neatly how is anyone going to know what you have to say! Why are we so reliant on computers to do everything for us!#PersonalizedPD
True, I know some great ones. Have to be able to get your idea across. Some of my editor friends consider a lot of their work to be almost ghost writing! #PersonalizedPD
Agree, Matthew. @jbretzmann and others have said, tell Ss that they are not making their work for us, but for the world to see. If they understand that anyone could view their work they tend to try harder. #personalizedPD
A6 - By addressing them in terms of audience. If a student understands that their final product will be viewed, read, or heard by an audience other than their teacher, then they are more likely to make changes. Also one-on-one coaching with students helps. #personalizedpd
A7 I loved Empowering Writers when I was teaching 2nd. It was so well laid out, the lessons made sense, the kids loved it, and their writing flourished. #PersonalizedPD
Who told me that?! Those things are my state standards. The way teachers hold students accountable may vary, but it's important for kids to understand that conventions matter in the publication process. #PersonalizedPD
Q7 - Honestly right now it is #edchats. I find so much value in seeing what other teachers are doing and saying about education rather than feeling like a secluded island. Also the works of @DianeRavitch and @SirKenRobinson have helped me to grow. #personalizedpd
My group is the publisher. We've published the #personalizedPD book, Flipping 2.0, Professionally Driven, & Flipping with Kirch (also Game of Stories). See here https://t.co/sodBzolITk This book is a new project for our group & a way to amplify educators' voices!
#mentortexts make it possible to teach literally ANY type of writing and give student much more opportunity to experience authentic writing tasks #personalizedpd Writing with Mentors: How to Reach Every Writer in the Room https://t.co/3zQ3i97Zza via @amazon
As the chat winds down take a minute to follow some new #personalizedPD friends.
Thank you, everyone for joining us and special thanks to @mandymtaylor for providing great questions for us tonight.
After two days of exploring games, my Ss will start to create their own content-related games using the principles they learned & we'll "publish" them using online tools. Certainly a different writing style. #personalizedPD
As the chat winds down take a minute to follow some new #personalizedPD friends.
Thank you, everyone for joining us and special thanks to @mandymtaylor for providing great questions for us tonight.
A7: This book right here changed my writing instruction and my OWN writing practice. If you haven't heard about #mentortexts you need to find out more #PersonalizedPD#gamechanger
Thanks #personalizedPD for a fantastic chat tonight. Now I feel like I have to go write something. Thanks @kennybosch for moderating! Remember to follow those with ideas that challenge or interest you!
