#ALedchat is a weekly chat on Twitter about education topics. It is held each Monday from 9-10pmCST. While the discussion on #ALedchat continues on Twitter well beyond our weekly one-hour chat session, this platform affords us the opportunity to extend, expand and share the conversation with an even greater audience. Educators from across the state of Alabama, and the world, can come here to find encouragement, support, resources, professional growth opportunities and advice, while providing the same to their colleagues.
Q1: I have heard it said that the way a school ends a year often dictates the way it will begin the next. What do you do in your classroom/school to ensure a smooth transition? #ALedchat
A1: I clean and organize! Things tend to pile up throughout the school year. When packing up my classroom, I throw away things that I no longer need and organize those that I do. This makes for a smooth beginning in the fall. #ALedchat
A1: Reflection is key! Ending with energy and psssion is hard, but gets you ready to start a new year on a positive note! What will you do different next year? #aledchat
A1: Ensure that we keep teaching content and making sure that students are still doing engaging activities. These are the last days they have with me, so I’m running out of time to teach certain things. There are still things to know to prepare them for next year. #ALedchat
A1: I clean and organize! Things tend to pile up throughout the school year. When packing up my classroom, I throw away things that I no longer need and organize those that I do. This makes for a smooth beginning in the fall. #ALedchat
A1: I encourage Ts to leave with a clean, organized classroom. That way, when they return in the summer to get ready for the next school year, they are beginning with a clean slate. #ALedchat
A1 julie from chattanooga, TN. I think through next years beginning of year tech role out and prep all I can now while everything is fresh on my mind for re-evaluation #ALedchat
#ALedchat A1- I’m knee-deep in our master schedule. Most don’t like the process. I do. Getting everything squared away now helps make August go smoother.
We spend time having fun together. We roast marshmallows, play in the sprinklers, walk the slack line with friends, play with the parachute. My daughter is 24 and these end of the year celebrations in kindergarten are some of her favorite school memories. #ALedchat
I teach 11th grades who I have for 2 years, so rebuilding relationships and getting them excited for next year is extremely important for me! #aledchat
A1: I also make sure I've resolved any conflicts or misunderstandings with colleagues. I don't want lingering bad feelings to spoil the start of the following year. We all have to be focused on the mission of the school rather than distracted by #teacherdrama. #ALedchat
A1: I'm not in the classroom, but I suggested to a teacher friend today to use @Flipgrid in her final days with her 7th graders. They will leave messages to the new students she will have in the fall. #ALedchat#lastbell
Q1: I have heard it said that the way a school ends a year often dictates the way it will begin the next. What do you do in your classroom/school to ensure a smooth transition? #ALedchat
A1 julie from chattanooga, TN. I think through next years beginning of year tech role out and prep all I can now while everything is fresh on my mind for re-evaluation #ALedchat
A1: I continue to celebrate & highlight the awesome things our teachers & students are doing at school. It's an amazing place, and I want the momentum & tradition of excellence to continue! #ALedchat#HooverPride#lastbell
Q2: A key to keeping students engaged towards the end hinges on novelty and variety. What do you do in your classroom/school that is novel or provides variety? #ALedchat
Celebrating accomplishments is huge for me as well. This year, I wrote all my seniors letters letting them know how proud I was of what they were able to accomplish this year. #aledchat
A1: I reflect on what was taught and may need to be reorganized. Talk with students about how they think things worked this year. FINISH what we ser our to do at the beginning. Learn until the end. Definitely clean up and organize to start fresh. #ALedchat
Celebrating accomplishments is huge for me as well. This year, I wrote all my seniors letters letting them know how proud I was of what they were able to accomplish this year. #aledchat
A2: Projects that focus on things we covered over the entire school year. Want my students to reflect on what they learn. I also want to make sure that I’m using different ideas and formats to keep it fresh. Kids get bored when they do the same things over and over. #ALedchat
A1 The tendency is to let up. Make the days count. Rigor shouldn’t end just because the year is. Celebrate the success, but continue planning for the future. #ALedchat
As a special education teacher, I spend most of the year focusing on isolated pieces of reading like fluency, affixes, summarizing, etc. At the end, we apply learned skills in context by doing a novel study. #ALedchat
For seniors, I make sure to survey their opinion of the program I teach and what has worked/what hasn't I use that for planning for next year. Because so many of them are taking AP exams, time with them is VERY short at the end! #aledchat
A2: I got to be a part of an "in-house" field trip for our Ss in Foods & Nutrition class. They learned about the school lunch program & worked with our lunchroom workers one day. It was awesome! https://t.co/XCs57X4jB0#ALedchat
A2: I see many of our teachers focusing on students and student gifts and talents. Art and fun are important as we close this year. Make them want to bust down the doors to get back in! #aledchat
A2 senior walk thru the enter PreK-12 school, elementary morning dance party last full day of school with all school movie day. Celebrate Teachers retiring in a big way. #ALedchat
A2: As an admin, I think now is a great time to encourage teachers to try some outside of the box ideas that they have been wanting to try but been hesitant. Go ahead and give them that nudge to take a chance on a lesson or unit they have been wanting to try. #ALedchat
A2: Celebrations are engaging and can take many forms (novel projects, competitions, inventions, assemblies,etc...)...they naturally allow the inclusion of all learners. #ALedchat
Yes! I choose a few books on students' functional reading levels. Students read summaries, watch book trailers, and vote for the one that piques their collective interest! #ALedchat
Yes! I choose a few books on students' functional reading levels. Students read summaries, watch book trailers, and vote for the one that piques their collective interest! #ALedchat
I did the same last year, and one of my previous students came to visit a few weeks ago. He said he pulls out the letter in college whenever he's struggling. Talk about making a day! #aledchat
The kids weren't sure what to think about it at first, but they ended up learning so much & LOVING it! I took a bunch of pics & created a slideshow that I shared with the teachers & school staff. It was a hit with everyone. #ALedchat
A3 finding my balance between what I would like to get accomplished and what is actually doable. Giving just enough PD to empower teachers for not year not overwhelm them #ALedchat
A3: Lack of motivation (from teachers and students) and exhaustion! This year, I've been intentional about changing my mindset from "only X more days until summer" to "only X more days to make an impact". That's helped me maintain focus. #ALedchat
A3: The end of the year is BUSY -- textbook collection, exams, end of the year evaluations, etc. all while trying to focus on the kids. I struggle with that balance. #aledchat
Working around a crazy schedule. With student trips, playoffs, AP testing and all other end of year requirements, sometimes it’s hard to keep everyone focused. I spread out assignment due dates for everyone to have time to keep up. #ALedchat
A3 Complacencyis the biggest problem. Keep the main thing the main thing. Stick to your routine. Hold each other accountable. Use data to remind you of your WHY! #ALedchat
A3: Finding the balance between finishing out the school year strong and preparing for next year. Want to look ahead, but I don’t want to neglect my current students. Also, fatigue and burnout. Reflection helps with constant reminders how valuable our time is. #ALedchat
A3: The stress of having so many deadlines and also preparing for the next school year. You know it’s coming and you prepare, but the stress is still there. Offset by taking care of yourself. Making time to exercise, eat right, get plenty of sleep! #ALedchat
A3: Maintaining positivity and a focus on growth. Just being able to get SOMETHING out of every day when you know the learning conditions aren’t ideal. #ALedchat
A3 STAMINA! Mine and the students’... spring is so busy we are all exhausted but it’s up to me to keep my Ss motivated and my team to keep each other going. #ALedchat
@Jennifer_Hogan then you might recognize this- I was recently asked to come to Hixson middle to lead pd on blogging. I felt I had come full circle! Remember Mr. Fairchild? #ALedchat
Learning doesn't stop when state testing is over. Students can keep learning, albeit in different and unusual ways, until the last day of the school year. Have a plan. Make it positive. And make it FUN! #ALedchat
A4: Start organizing what you did this school year. Reflect back on the year and look at what worked and what didn’t. Do it before summer begins because you’ll forget if you don’t. #ALedchat
Yes! A teacher in my building tried doing a room transformation last week. She had review problems organized like spy missions. Students worked in the dark with flashlights. She wasn't sure it would work, but now it'll be tradition! #ALedchat
A4: Don’t stop being intentional. Even though it’s the end of our school year, there are still students and colleagues who count on you and need you. The ending of school can be traumatic for students who rely on school for stability. #ALedchat
Don’t do it alone. Work with other teachers in and out of your content area. Spread the wealth on getting things done. You don’t need to do it all. If you are one that has time to give, help others get their work done. Build those relationships. #ALedchat
A4: Start planning for the end before May. You might even want to ... begin with the end in mind. The end of the school year is for taking stock of (my) learning, celebrating the success, and planning for the next phase. Evidence of my learning > my complete data chart #aledchat
A3: Completing all the end of the year tasks while still being visible and available to staff and Ss is difficult. Prioritizing, delegating, and being intentional about those most important goals helps keep you sane. #ALedchat
Yes! A teacher in my building tried doing a room transformation last week. She had review problems organized like spy missions. Students worked in the dark with flashlights. She wasn't sure it would work, but now it'll be tradition! #ALedchat
Agree.
Can we call out & reclaim the power standardized testing has usurped whenever we see it though? Here we could say “that’d be like saying ‘don’t stop eating right & exercising after your annual checkup’”
Learn till the last day cause learning is that valuable! #aledchat
Learning doesn't stop when state testing is over. Students can keep learning, albeit in different and unusual ways, until the last day of the school year. Have a plan. Make it positive. And make it FUN! #ALedchat
A4b one of my favorite ways to end this year was having my elementary tech team lead an escape room STEAM pd for their teachers https://t.co/bf4K9qUxxh#aledchat
A5: Reverse planning. Think about the end when you’re planning out the year. That way, you can think about the end of the year with meaningful activities that aren’t redundant for the students. #ALedchat
Q6: What resources (programs, literature, people) would you recommend to colleagues in regards to determining best practices for wrapping up the school year on a positive note? #ALedchat
A6 we had shirts made up for this year for the teachers - we are all going to wear them in the carpool line the last day - they say “tag parents, you’re it” everyone needs a good chuckle and sense of togetherness #ALedchat
A6: The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey, and All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Garrison Keillor. #aledchat
A6 we had shirts made up for this year for the teachers - we are all going to wear them in the carpool line the last day - they say “tag parents, you’re it” everyone needs a good chuckle and sense of togetherness #ALedchat
A6: I started a “late spring” journal several years ago when I was so bogged down and stressed. I open that journal at the end of the year when I’m swimming upstream to remind myself it has been worse, and I made it! Resiliency is a great tool. #ALedchat
We did something similar. It was The Case of the Missing Popsicles!! So much fun with multiple activities including a Secret Agent Training room with lasers #ALedchat
A7: Reading current literature on education. Planning our annual English Summer Camp. Attending PD with my co-workers. Meeting with grade level groups to plan out lesson plans and unit plans for next year. #ALedchat
I have a stack of summer reads about engaging instruction, dyslexia research, and other topics. I hope reading about professional topics over the summer will keep me focused and energized. I also want to stay active on Twitter to reach outside my immediate edu. circle. #ALedchat
A6: Your leaders (admins, teacher leaders, students leaders) can help wrap up the school on a successful note by being positive and upbeat about the upcoming year. Sharing sneak peaks of things to come excites Ss and getting input from staff adds voice . #ALedchat
A7 Changing from 3rd grade teacher of 12 years to a Reading Coach position. Currently looking for any great reads and people to connect with to build my reading coach /instructional partner PLN #ALedchat
A7: Preparation and reflection are key. Preparation for the next year picks up where reflection from the last year ended. So being sure to include time to reflect and talk through things with another teacher or admin is key. #ALedchat
FA: Reminder that every second is valuable in the classroom. Those last days where students are feeling unmotivated are still valuable. Use that time wisely and don’t give up. #ALedchat
FA: Everyday matters! That is what is tough about education. No days off. It is also what is rewarding. We can make a difference everyday. Who else can say that? #aledchat
Thank you for being a part of our awesome chat. The #aledchat team wishes you a summer filled with fun and of course learning and growing! See you in August!
FA: Planning and pining are not the same thing. Living intentionally is powerful; dreading, anticipating, regretting or dwelling on anything is unhealthily. Plan like you’ll live indefinitely; live like you’ll die at any minute. #aledchat
As we are counting down, I want to make the days count with my math department. Finish the year in sharing our stresses and building relationships. These are great days on reflecting on the year while building for the future. #ALedchat
