#122edchat is a weekly conversation designed to help inspire educators across the globe to reach their greatest potential in service of others. Megan Hacholski (@megan_hacholski) and Michael Abramczyk (@_on11), along with guest moderators, lead each week with a different focus tied to their strengths and areas of expertise.
Hi folks. George from Japan. I teach secondary English and write at https://t.co/HVCqyGmhNd. Happy to learn with you today. My favorite Thanksgiving food is pumpkin pie with tons of whipped cream! #122edchat
Scott from Winchester Va. I am checking in from the sunny paradise known as Syracuse NY...no wait, it really is snowy and cold as heck here. I am a fan of all things pie. I am excited to moderate tonight. #122edchat
Hi all! I'm Vanessa Heller from Southern CA: into #inquiry#pbl and #GiftedEd. I am a middle school humanities teacher, ELA Dept. Chair, Tech Innovator, Peer Coach. Fave Turkey Day food is my mom’s corn souffle! #122edchat
Hello #122edchat! Tika, a 2nd grade teacher & mentor, from Las Vegas. My favorite Thanksgiving food is my mother-in-law’s carrot ring. It is sweet and savory.
Hello everyone. Luis and ELL teacher, tech coach, and director from RI. My favorite thanksgiving food is a nice turkey leg. Can't forget the sides and pie. I know that's more than one. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
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Hi, everyone! I’m Iliana, a pre-service English teacher in Cambridge, MA.
Butternut squash. All day.
Thank you for having me! I’m excited to learn from you all. #122edchat
Good Day all! June from Singapore here - home tutoring my 6 and 9 yr old kids! We don't celebrate Thanksgiving here but I love any feasts, anytime #122edchat
Hi there! I’m Bria from Pittsburgh. K-4 technology facilitator 👩🏼💻 Favorite thanksgiving food would have to be....stuffing! Or sweet potatoes! Or pie! 😬 #122edchat
A1: Be careful not to push the "have-to-get-this-done-before-Winter-Break" mindset. It can be so easy to have Ss fall into that trap with you, & they are so much less equipped to deal w/ that stress than we are. #122edchat
Happy Thanksgiving Eve! Sherri here, educator from @ThirstyBeesNY. Favorite Thanksgiving food is definitely the Turkey (and potatoes, and cranberry sauce, and yams, and stuffing, and pie, and...) #122edchat
#122edchat Intro Heulwen #Melbourne Australia. We don't do Thanksgiving but I certainly take great joy in watching all the Thanksgiving menus and traditions. Is such a big deal for you guys.
Teaching Math, TESOL or #ESOL and job hunting, so this is my break.
A1: When I am stressed about family gatherings, I'm thankful for @katie_abramczyk & her willingness to listen to my feelings. I do my best to carry this approach to my Ss. We can't assume that everyone loves to celebrate. We must make space for Ss to share their voice. #122edchat
A1: first of all rememberthis is a challenging time and then practicing compassion and kindness as often as possible, being there for people in small ways(a smile, a hug, a text, a bag of food, a note home) #122edchat
A1: I really try to break up the normally rigorous tasks by giving something fun. I've made it a goal this year to check in on others more. Our school just lost 2 former Ss, which has been esp. sad for our staff. I've been trying to check on their Ts #122edchat
A1: It's exam time in Japan. I let Ss know that they are so much more than a score. A score doesn't tell us how good of a person they are, or how they treat their grandma. A score is just that. A score. Be a good person. Try hard. Do your best, and then LET IT GO. #122edchat
A1 Listening is very important and knowing everyone does not like the holidays. We have to be understanding. I believe knowing our kids and what they can handle will help to #122edchat#relationships
A1 Keep the structure and consistency for your students. Mine thrive and depend on it. Be mindful that some anxiety comes without their constant school environment. #122edchat
A1 With my ELs it is especially difficult bc there are many different religions in the group and not all celebrate the same holidays.The way I handle this is we celebrate all the holiday from every culture, every religion. Each student shares and we celebrate diversity.#122edchat
A1 The mass shooting at Borderline was in my town, then everything caught fire the next day, so a stressful time indeed! Some lost homes & we all lost a week of school. We need time to vent, regroup, & reconnect when school resumes. Then we can start “school” again. #122edchat
A1: I don't give students homework over the holidays - some of them are actually not looking forward to the season because of many traumatic issues at home, so I don't want to give them any additional stress. I also don't give myself a lot of holiday homework. #122edchat
A1b For our community, and our students in particular, they need time, hugs, and support. Teachers can do this easily for them and for each other. #122edchat
A2: Looking forward to quality time w/ my sister - she's home from @michiganstateu for the week. We're taking my mom to see the Nutcracker on Saturday, which will be a great girls' trip! #122edchat
A1: first of all rememberthis is a challenging time and then practicing compassion and kindness as often as possible, being there for people in small ways(a smile, a hug, a text, a bag of food, a note home) #122edchat
A1b: And, in the days leading up to the holidays, I make sure students feel loved and supported, that they know I care. Those that are worried about so much time away from school can find comfort in knowing I'll be there for them. #122edchat
A1: One of my favorite things is to identify a S or T who could use a lift & send them a gratitude wave: every student in a classsroom or the entire school staff all send a Thx note to the one person. Coolest is when 500 Ss & Ts all send one to the principal! #givethx#122edchat
A2: With the in-laws in Wisconsin. Not sure how restful this weekend will be. Trying my best to get loose ends tied up from the past couple wks before the next batch of hurdles appear. Checking things off a to-do list is very relaxing & empowering. Time to make a list! #122edchat
A2 I always feel like thanksgiving break is the hardest to actually “take a break.” I’m just going to try to embrace the chaos, and try to find time to see fantastic beasts! #122edchat
A2: I am using some time to get ahead to lessen my stress next week, but I'm taking at least one day for just doing fun things for myself and with my family. #122edchat
A2: I have been spending time with family and friends, devoting some time to some long overdue strategic thinking! Also planning to spend Saturday afternoon watching the @NYRangers at #msg#122edchat
A1: One of the greatest ways I can help Ss deal with stress, is teaching them to identify stress. I teach Ss how to label their emotions, and articulate their feelings. #122edchat
A1
Be sure to have conversations with the students so they know you are genuinely interested in how they are and what they are up to. I've learned to ask about things I know will be positive for those students in tougher situations outside of school.
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A2: Spend time with family and friends who provide love and lots of laughter Be present in the moment and be energized in body mind and spirit on Monday #122edchat
A2 Enjoy family time, good food, and some football. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. All the benefits of a holiday without the shopping. #122edchat
Right on, Sam! The sun will come up tomorrow. Life will go on. There will be an opportunity the next day. I still struggle with saying "NO" at times with this in mind. #122edchat
#122edchat a2 One of my biggest wins has not been waiting till my tank is empty and only filling back up on breaks. Mini breaks, where phone is turned off and I go get a juice, wander along, are so much better than "binge breaking". #gratitude
A2 I have gone to the gym every day and rested. I need to to keep going to the gym after this week. I look forward to spending time with family tomorrow. #122edchat
A2: I went to work yesterday to make sure I had everything ready for the WEEK & I've done the same at home. Just want to relax and focus on school work & maybe a bit of reading for enjoyment (Gasp... Dare I say that?!) #122edchat
A1: Positivity is contagious. We need to be really careful with countdowns to holidays or breaks, because for some of our students, break is the last thing they want. We need to think about questions we ask about holiday plans so that we don’t glorify inequities. #122edchat
A2 We hosted an evacuated family for a few days, then I got back to the gym, read a book or two, worked(ing) on my secret project, attended NCTE in Houston (which was awesome), slept in a bit…. chilling with hubs and our kids. #122edchat
A2: Unplug and go outside. We’ve been indoors surrounded by smoke the past week dealing w/ terrible fires here in CA. I want to hear the sound of dirt under my feet as I hike & recharge w/ some sun. #122edchat
A1: One of the greatest ways I can help Ss deal with stress, is teaching them to identify stress. I teach Ss how to label their emotions, and articulate their feelings. #122edchat
A2: Reading fiction always helps me recharge. Reading in general gets me fired up about literature and starts getting me thinking about teaching. #122edchat
Breaks my heart, Vanessa. Happy that you are present for those that are hurting and dealing with loss this holiday season. Grateful for you. #122edchat
A1 The mass shooting at Borderline was in my town, then everything caught fire the next day, so a stressful time indeed! Some lost homes & we all lost a week of school. We need time to vent, regroup, & reconnect when school resumes. Then we can start “school” again. #122edchat
#122edchat Welcome to the future oh Northern Hemisphere Teacher. It is not only tomorrow, aka Thursday but it is already the arvo being after 12 noon :) And I've already written a job application (for a mate).
A1
No homework
Reassure students you will be there when they return from break
Be sensitive.... try not to ask what students will be eating over the holiday Try to remember that some students may not have a special Thanksgiving dinner at all #122edchat
A3: @WeVideo empowers Ss to thrive, with ease, as producers instead surviving as consumers. @flipgrid has taken our Lab presentations to the next level because it has given the power of voice to our most modest and quiet explorers. #122edchat
Absolutely correct! Laughter has the power to shift the atmosphere! And I agree...sleep IS a gift. I tell this to the students all the time. #122edchat
I am thankful for @Desmos I have been pushing myself so hard to use it with a purpose, and my kids are so good with it. Such an awesome tool! #morethanacalculator#122edchat
A2
Maximize time with my family. I spent some extra time in the office prepping for next week to ensure that I can spend some time Monday welcoming everyone back! I want to be visible for all the Ss and let them know I'm excited to have them back.
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A3: @DeckToys all the way! definite upgrade from Hyperdocs and my kids are self-motivated to learn more on the platform. Played Draw n Guess with them too with their own devices, super fun! #122edchat
A2: Spend LOTS of time have engaging conversations with my loved ones! Communication is an ART, and I don’t plan on wasting it! #122edchat@_on11@megan_hacholski
A2: Reading about teaching and learning always recharges me. The more I learn, the better I am for students. My audible subscription has been a great gift to myself this holiday season. #122edchat
You guys are still dealing with the smoke from the Paradise & Chico fire, right? The terrain down here looks like a moonscape...charred and barren. #122edchat
A2: I just finished resting and recharging on our vacation, so tomorrow is spent with family and the rest of the weekend is cleaning and organizing. Organizing makes me happy. #122edchat
A4: I am thankful for their ability to bring light to my days, no matter how rough of a time I might be having. They make every day fun & remind me exactly why I do what I do. #122edchat
A4: I’m thankful that my students inspire me as much as I do them. Learning is a two way street and if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to do what I do #122edchat
A3: Oh my! It’s hard to choose just one! I would definitely say I am thankful for @Flipgrid and @GoogleHangout as well as the ColARMix App which uses augmented reality with colored illustrations! #122edchat@_on11@megan_hacholski
A3: I am thankful for @GoogleForEdu - I love everything about the platforms available. Finishing up a course through @alicekeeler on #GoogleSheets right now and I learned sooooo much that makes my life easier! #122edchat
#122edchat a2 One of my biggest wins has not been waiting till my tank is empty and only filling back up on breaks. Mini breaks, where phone is turned off and I go get a juice, wander along, are so much better than "binge breaking". #gratitude
#122edchat a3 Never let a good question get in the way of an even better answer. Retro #edtech you can't beat scissors and now my camera is my go to tool now. I love my Samsung. It captures my learning world.
A3 There are too many to list just one but if I have to give just one then I will o with @MicrosoftTeams. The reason is that I can embed and use many of the other tools in Teams. #122edchat
Thanks @_on11; one of the greatest blessings is enjoying the present, whether I harvest a deer or not, it’s a joy to watch the sunrise in solitude and take in the gift of nature. #122edchat
A4: Middle school kids are the hidden gems of our society. They are smelly, weird, awkward, complex, but brutally honest and desperately trying to discover who they truly are. It is an honor go on this amazing adventure with them. #122edchat
A4: I am thankful that they are open-minded. I am thankful that they come to talk to me, about things that are bothering them, things they are excited about or proud of, or about nothing at all. I love my relationships with my Ss! #122edchat
A3 Google Classroom has been great logistically as far as pushing out assignments & info, but especially helpful since we had to close school due to the fires (so 2 weeks off). Kids were messaging me and each other via GC. I could post messages for them easily as well. #122edchat
A4: I'm thankful for their abilities to constantly have a sense of humor & eagerness to learn, no matter how much is put on their plate!! They make me laugh everyday & I'm so grateful for them! #122edchat
A4 I’m thankful for my students trying new things with me, and giving great feedback. They put up with my craziness, make me smile and laugh daily. Everyday isn’t a success, but the students make it worth it. #kidsdeserveit#122edchat
A3: Twitter! Made new friends, learned new stuff, shared ideas, encouraged & been encouraged, had great conversations, been inspired, and built up a fantastic #PLN that continues to help me become a better educator for my students! #122edchat
A4 I am thankful for their hugs, their smiles, and their understanding of a productive struggle and growth mindset. I adore my 2nd grade Believers😊 #122edchat
A3 This semester I am thankful for @scratch , as I have been teaching two math and coding classes. Also enjoying the new workflow from Google Classroom. Makes checking work easier #122edchat
A4
I'm most thankful for the relationships. The smile and joy on their face when they see me at school or even out in public, I hope to always live up to being someone they can count on and want to have around (While also keeping my expectations high for them)
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A4: I’m thankful for everything about our students. Their warmth, their honesty, their laughs, their wonder. Students are the exclamation point to teaching. They are the magic. #122edchat
A4: Their work ethic. It holds me accountable. I can never slack even for a second because I would feel terrible for not giving them the very best education that they are so desperate for! #122edchat
Thanks! I am looking forward to seeing my students Monday. No academics for a couple of days, just giving them space to express themselves and re-adjust to school. #122edchat
Thankful for my students’ abilities to embrace both academic and life challenges, gracefully. Appreciative of their efforts to fully bring self to the learning experience and their willingness to learn with/from each other. #122edchat
#122edchat A4: This year we became a 1:1 school. I’m thankful my students are willing to try out what the tech offers. We’ve done digital break outs, participated in Skype-a-thon and are working with the Google suite.
A3 This semester I am thankful for @scratch , as I have been teaching two math and coding classes. Also enjoying the new workflow from Google Classroom. Makes checking work easier #122edchat
A4 I am thankful for my students' energy (most of the time), the cultural lessons that they bring to our classroom, and especially their determination and desire to learn. #122edchat
A4: I don’t even know where to begin! My Ss have left a trail upon my heart, pointing me back to gratitude. I’m thankful for their vulnerability, courage, trust, and their growth! #122edchat
A4
We need Ss as much as they need us
I treasure every ah-ha moment every smile every accomplishment, every break through with every child who is struggling, every celebration, every holiday card, every thank you and every "I'm sorry, I'll do better next time"
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A5: I am thankful for how quickly they made me feel like part of the family here. It was so hard to leave the #simmonslearns community, but the #SEGwarriornation (who I'll be pushing to join Twitter soon!) has been nothing but warm and welcoming. #122edchat
A5: Our Lab team is amazing! Each member brings their own unique strengths to our space each day. Much like a well made soup, each of the contributions adds flavor and depth to the product that we are able to serve our Ss. Without their voice, we are basically Ramen. #122edchat
#122edchat A4 - They show up every single day ready for me to impact. Our kids deal with so much. Fun to watch them grow up in the three years i'm with them.
#122edchat a4 After working with students, who despite or because of all their challenges, were more determined than ever. I had the best time working. Yep, I would come home and need a mini break most nights but it has been the best working time and they are the reason.
#esol
After a well served meal, you are in for a solid nap! Don't sleep too long because #betheone begins at 7:45 followed by #KidsDeserveIt at 8 Central. Special thanks to tonight's top chef, @ScottLewisITC, for a delicious edition of #122edchat.
A4 I am thankful for my students because they are cool humans. They are silly and sweet… and I miss them and hope they are okay after all this tragedy in our area. #122edchat
A5: Everyone at my school was super helpful to me when I first came. It made the transition so much more smooth. So thankful for my great coworkers. #122edchat
A4: I’m thankful for everything about our students. Their warmth, their honesty, their laughs, their wonder. Students are the exclamation point to teaching. They are the magic. #122edchat
A4: Students ask amazing questions and they don’t even know it.
Every day is a new opportunity to be a better me, and just being around them reminds me why it’s important to seize it. It is a honor to learn with them and learn from them. #122edchat
A5: I appreciate their willingness to trust me. As a coach, it's so important that the Ts I serve feel comfortable talking to me and allowing me into their classrooms. It's a very personal profession. #122edchat
A5
I can never express how much I appreciate and am thankful for my colleagues and their undying support, caring, and kindness. We celebrate together and cry together We are there for one another like family through the good, the bad, and the ugly #122edchat
A5
The relationships, collaboration, and honest feedback. I'm thankful for my entire @Beulah_ES family. Thankful for who they have helped me to become and continue to challenge me and hold me accountable to continue growing as a human and educator.
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A5 I have a secret society of progressive minded colleagues on site, across sites, and folks I meet through conferences & Twitter. I'm thankful for their openness and willingness to do what’s right and what’s best for all kids - not to do what’s easiest for themselves. #122edchat
Um, what?! This is epic, Michael! So excited to learn from Adam next week! He always makes me want to get after it! See you then! #122edchat#RunLAP#KidsDeserveIt
A5: I’m #grateful for my colleagues’ positivity & curiosity. They sustain & motivate me every day. They also make me feel like I belong & have purpose, which is no small thing #122edchat
Thankful that my colleagues are willing to visit and share where they are & what they have done. We have been making an effort to be more united #122edchat
A special thank you to @_on11 for keeping #122edchat afloat for all this time. More grateful for you than I can ever express, boss. Here's a never-before-seen picture of us practicing for the first show we produced together.
A4: Wow, so much to say here... I'm thankful they are in my life, I'm thankful for their smiles, & hugs, & drawing on my hand, & laughter, & silliness, & the things they share with me (interests, games, books, stories), & seeing the light of new learning in their eyes. #122edchat
Totally agree with you! We were talking about traveling to National Parks in summer. Really looking forward to get back out on the trails and taking in nature. #122edchat
Another incredible #122edchat tonight! Thanks so much @ScottLewisITC for bringing an attitude of gratitude & to my man @_on11 for being awesome! Love this group right here! So thankful for each of you!
Drop and drag coding! I have been using it monthly in my Geometry class and a little in Alg1. Easy to learn too and lots of literature. I just got back from my city library amd returned two books about it! #122edchat
#122edchat a5 My colleagues support my individual thought, because it is about us and you can't do that without us. We all bring something to the table.
A5: SUPPORT and LOVE when it is needed MOST! We are a VILLAGE with one goal: building a community of learners who WILL change the world!! #122edchat@_on11@megan_hacholski
Message me with some projects! I have not blogged this year and I am getting the itch so that I can share it. Also check my IG "mrcarganilla" for screenshots of projects from my students! #122edchat
A5: Their professionalism, passion, love for students, collaborative spirit, open-mindedness, grit, determination, knowledge, experience, and their ability to provide students with hope. #122edchat
A5: My colleagues are my personal heroes. They push my thinking, they accept my weird, they love kids unconditionally, they make me laugh, they are constantly looking for ways to be better for kids. I’m humbled to be growing beside them every day. #122edchat
So essential that our students are seeing us on Day One. They may have anxiety in returning to school. We need to meet them at the entry and set the tone. #122edchat
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone at #122edchat. May you all be blessed and may you continue to be grateful for every blessing received.
It's a regular school day here in the Philippines. Back to work...
I love our Ts that push the envelope, but also thankful for those that push back sometimes. They make me take a good hard look at WHY we’re making changes & make sure it’s not just more tech. #122edchat
Thank you @ScottLewisITC and @_on11 for bringing this chat to us tonight. Happy Thanksgiving to you, and to everyone who came out tonight to join in! #122edchat
Such a game changer! One of my favorite stories is 6 years ago when we had a snow day, but were still able to have classes via Google! Huzzah! #122edchat
