The Breakfast Club – #BFC530 – is a 15 minute, 1 question Twitter chat every weekday. We chat in 4 timezones Mon-Fri – 5:30am Eastern, Central, Mountain, and Pacific Times. The mission of BFC is to empower participants to make a difference in education by engaging in consistent reflective practice in a supportive community that inspires and challenges one another.
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
same here! I cringe at thinking what these results are going to be - we begin next week. I just want it over with already so we can go back to learning! #bfc530
I find that if teachers, including myself, are not invested in whatever is being proposed, it will not work. It is hard when things are handed down and you are told you HAVE to do it. #bfc530
#bfc530 I am a big fan of RL 7.7, which says that we need to use all forms of text: art, film, music. For me, it is a game changer. It helps me reach all #students. #middleschool
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
Go full #PBL. Ideally in a school wide, competency based framework. But if not that, make the jump in your own classroom. It is THE game changer (IMO). Here's where to start: https://t.co/FAHijJWjyv#bfc530
This is so true. No matter how enthusiastic admin is, if they don't include Ts in the decision making, it will fall flat (learned the hard way!) #BFC530
I love mindset work; true deep mindset work. With that, we have to be extremely careful of other messages we send (test taking and intervention for 2) I love Jo Boaler for this reason. #bfc530
Really appreciate your question this morning @engineerteacher ! Something I try to practise more regularly is to truly listen to my students...getting to know who they are, their passions and interests, and suggestions they have about our learning. #bfc530
My best practice is student reflection. I love "forcing" them to look back at their performance and identify - without my help - how they could have improved their writing or study habits. It leads to a "wow" moment for them, and hopefully a conscious change. #bfc530
Morning. I'm just one person but if all teachers especially in HS treated their students as people and were invested in relationships with them (like our #bfc530) crew instead of students with grades/ test scores...
I'm thinking it would be a good start.
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
#BFC530 Among best practices -- time on task, collaboration, tech integration, creativity, self-reflection -- commit to periodic review of quality indicators using a quality based rubric.
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
Just one? That’s tough—Care! It all starts with caring relationships, caring about others, your school, your community and effective teaching and learning! #bfc530
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
Hi #bfc530 - In Ontario's Kindergarten document they encourage educators to ask themselves "Why this learning for this child at this time?" Asking this really forces me to start from where the child is and recognize whether the task at hand is of value #bfc530
It's not one thing, as we are not a cookie cutter career. It starts with teachers wanting to grow to be better today than they were yesterday. Finding time to complete PD that they want/need and time to implement into the classroom would be a tremendous first step. #bfc530
Hey V, I started a teacher instagram account. I tried to follow you, but weirdly I cannot find you again (even though I know we follow each other) anyways, it is mrsiwanicki if you care to follow #bfc530 (or anyone else reading this)
Go full #PBL. Ideally in a school wide, competency based framework. But if not that, make the jump in your own classroom. It is THE game changer (IMO). Here's where to start: https://t.co/FAHijJWjyv#bfc530
Really appreciate your question this morning @engineerteacher ! Something I try to practise more regularly is to truly listen to my students...getting to know who they are, their passions and interests, and suggestions they have about our learning. #bfc530
I’m not there yet, but striving to #shiftthis! Shifting ownership to students. Not just in learning, but through choice & allowing S to have their voice involved in decisions, but in the class itself. My kids take pride in room #1113, how it’s set up, protocols, etc #bfc530
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
Cool question ! I think many of us here so things in our room that aren't the norm ( yet) - which is a big reason why this group is so awesome !! #bfc530
Good morning all! At our school we focus on relationships. Building strong relationships will continue to build stronger academics, better behavior, and attendance. #bfc530
Pt 1/2 One thing I would like to see is better/ daylight hours for students. I think most schools could benefit from pushing the start time back 1 hr. I would also shave 30-45 minutes off the student day. Teachers would gain planning #bfc530
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
I think the vast majority of teachers use best practices ... the problem is we have to do those best practices inside a crappy box created by politicians #bfc530
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
Problem-based learning in Math:
Learning through problems, direct teaching only as needed, letting Ss do the thinking!
#3ActMath#prbl#mtbos#iteachmath#bfc530
Truth! “Handing down” practices ‘expected’ across districts rarely finds roots in a system. “Tell them and they will do” usually just gets educators backs up. PURPOSE & objectives always need to be clear. #bfc530
For 4 years now, we hosted TEDxYouth & @TED_ED on campus as a platform for Ss to discover their passions & #stuvoice. It’s malleable to think about how you can elevate it year after year. Excited about the possibilities & how Ss always feel after delivering their talks. #bfc530
I would say that there are two things in our schedule that are fixed and non-negotiable. Independent reading and morning meeting. They both make a difference. #bfc530
Problem-based learning in Math:
Learning through problems, direct teaching only as needed, letting Ss do the thinking!
#3ActMath#prbl#mtbos#iteachmath#bfc530
Creativity and curiosity are things we talk about, but we don’t do ... very few students actually create something ... most of the time they do something based on the options we give them #bfc530
I agree - sometimes 'choice' is really a false choice within strict parameters offered by the teacher. Need to also consider our own learning biases- this was an eye-opener for me- I gravitate towards reading/writing/storytelling and was valuing that more #bfc530
I used to let me kids read what ever book they wanted at home. They thought it was cheating;)
Thankfully they stop the level nonsense by middle school.
#bfc530
Honestly, the best practice is to eliminate all that is not important. Don't think about it, just eliminate it and replace it with something that is. #bfc530
Kids read ... they just don’t want to read something from the media center and then have to take an AR test ... or write about their reading in a daily chart ... #bfc530
In reply to
@shighley, @susankotch, @btcostello05, @kathyiwanicki, @MrTravisDrake
Great practice, Bruce! Easy to forget in the busyness of a school day, but it can be a game changer for some of our kids! They need that kind of positive reinforcement...and so do parents! Thanks for reminding us! #bfc530
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
I can only speak for myself and the Ts I work with, but I'd like to think that's changed in the last five-ten years. Limited options and guidelines aren't always a bad thing. Solving a problem within a set of requirements calls for a lot of creativity. #bfc530
Honestly, the best practice is to eliminate all that is not important. Don't think about it, just eliminate it and replace it with something that is. #bfc530
There is no “student choice” ... we could compare student options/choose to the last US presidential election ... there was a choice ... just not good choices ... too many think choosing the lesser of two evils is the same a freedom to choose #bfc530
Agreed! Perhaps educators feel constrained themselves when it comes to being creative and curious...hard to enable others if I don’t know enough about it myself. #bfc530
That is 100% not the context for this situation though.
Also, we don’t have that. My English teachers offer some freedom in what kids can choose and take care to select when they need to, texts that kids have typically enjoyed/connected with in the past #bfc530
In reply to
@DennisDill, @shighley, @susankotch, @kathyiwanicki, @MrTravisDrake
Yeah, there are many teachers out there who haven't read a book for pleasure in a very long time. I wish they'd find the time, and then tell the kids about it. We can't get them excited about doing things we ourselves aren't willing to do. #bfc530
In reply to
@shighley, @btcostello05, @kathyiwanicki, @MrTravisDrake
I work with a teacher who tells his high school freshmen that he loves them every day. They roll their eyes and laugh but then write about how they know he truly cares about them and where they are going. Showing love and sharing yourself is what makes a difference. #bfc530
That’s because the text has shifted into video form ... I know Reading is important, but how much of real life learning has shifted away from reading books to watching a YouTube video #bfc530
In reply to
@shighley, @susankotch, @btcostello05, @kathyiwanicki, @MrTravisDrake
When I taught history, I gave options with the ability to always make your own project. That allowed for those that get stuck in the choice to see some ideas and for those that want to go far beyond to do that. As time went on more kids chose their own. #bfc530
Choice doesn't need to be absolute. Students may all need to learn about persuasive writing and understand specific techniques, but they can choose the topic and decide between essay, speech, slides, blog, etc. #bfc530
We read every day for 10-15 minutes at the start of class. Their only accountability is a discussion on Wednesdays. Engagement is high - the kids are reading - I can tell by the questions they answer. No need to write it down. It works. We have to trust them. #bfc530
In reply to
@DennisDill, @shighley, @btcostello05, @kathyiwanicki, @MrTravisDrake
There are things we learn from stories that’s interesting seem to be well enough communicated through video. Social emotional skills can be taught through video, but it’s not usually done as well as through text. #bfc530
In reply to
@DennisDill, @shighley, @susankotch, @kathyiwanicki, @MrTravisDrake
I get this but I think we run a gals narrative when we want to believe students have real choice ... or that teacher have real choice ... we have freedoms within a very strict set of parameters. #bfc530
I cringe at the vocabulary they are picking up from youtube videos. Funny story - we did poetry analysis. In class we did Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. They chose their own song. Couldn't find one "tier 2" word in any of the songs out there. lol Eye opener! #bfc530
In reply to
@DennisDill, @shighley, @btcostello05, @kathyiwanicki, @MrTravisDrake
Somehow this says the exact opposite of what I had intended it to say. Video is great, but stories and storytelling are still valuable parts of the human experience. #BFC530
There are things we learn from stories that’s interesting seem to be well enough communicated through video. Social emotional skills can be taught through video, but it’s not usually done as well as through text. #bfc530
In reply to
@DennisDill, @shighley, @susankotch, @kathyiwanicki, @MrTravisDrake
G’day! David joining from Sydney, Australia! Answer for today’s Q ‘Positive Expectancy’. Simply, if you invest money you expect a positive return, same with Ss. Teach them to be Positive with their Expectancy of themselves, of others, of studies, of life...! It works!
#bfc530
Not always topic but way to express their learning. With choice in topic the projects had to connect to what we were studying. That can take lots of forms but the connection needed to be there. #bfc530
I like to plan lessons in 10-minute chunks from the STUDENTS' point of view. I think that if we worked on this concept as a whole school/district, we'd see a lot of positive changes. #bfc530
I guess we disagree on the degree of choice. I think there can be choice within parameters and guidelines, you're saying parameters limit choice to much. To help me understand, can you give me an example of what you have in mind? An example of choice without parameters? #bfc530
Activating student voice in as many ways possible. Examples: co-creating assessments w/ Ss, monitoring S well-being w/ check ins at beginning of class, exit cards, consulting w/ them on changes at the school, explaining new policy to them so they understand. #BFC530
What is one "best practice" that you do in your school/classroom that, if adopted broadly, could be a game changer for education quality?
via @engineerteacher#BFC530
Adapted from #schoolinthecloud, create #SOLE pose a “Big Question” at the beginning of class. Give them 20 mins for prelim research and teach out (by Ss). Sets the stage for rest of class, plus keeps things student-driven #BFC530
Genuinely greet every student you come into contact with. Be happy they came today and did not decide to stay home. What if it was your biological child? How would you want every T to interact with your kid? Kindness matters. #BFC530
A thought ... at which point will we redefine “reading” into something that is inclusive to the many ways we gather and interpret information ... #bfc530
In reply to
@shighley, @MrTravisDrake, @susankotch, @btcostello05, @kathyiwanicki
For students and teachers in a school environment ... there are none. Outside of school ... I am crew to create just about anything I want. How many kids get to freely create in an art class? I am at an arts school an no kid freely creates anything. #bfc530
I think we need to acknowledge that “student choice” is not a free choice ... that have options that we specify for them ... that is not real choice wspecially when those options are not good #bfc530
Learning goals or overarching Qs but especially, generating indicators of learning & success criteria w/ SS. Ss need to know “end in mind”, why & especially, what sounds/looks like (indicators) while they work toward the LG, & what it sounds/looks like when they reach it #bfc530
Yes! This is indeed a powerful approach, especially when students define the details of the question/problem...https://t.co/jyV6L8tDqu. Cheers! #bfc530
I'm working to do just that w/ a particular S. I'm asking him what can I do to help and listening to his answers and trying out what he thinks. Giving him ownership in the solution. Even littles have so much to offer. #bfc530
Game changer for me has been going out to recess with 1st graders a couple of times a week. Yesterday I had a kiddo as me if I was coming out to play. I made it a priority because she asked, she was so happy to see me at recess. Little things mean so much. #BFC530
