A1: I go for walks vowing to simply focus on observing what's around me and not ruminate on anuthing else. I also try my best to set aside some time to watch some mindless sitcom. Something to make me smile at the end of a long day. #scitlap
A1 Striving to live up to my #oneword2018. Balance. Try to balance work, home, and play. And not beat myself up about not getting everything done. I self-talk as care for myself. #scitlap
I've been trying hard to not beat myself up too. Nice to hear I'm not the only one. We can't do it all. We need to forgive ourselves when we don't. #scitlap
A2: I am a dork, but I plan with gusto, and get excited about "what we are going to do". Right now super pumped about a couple of lessons I am teaching on Friday, to the point that I want to just skip tomorrow! #scitlap
I get excited about lessons too, but more apprehensive and nervous this year. Challenging group of learners. I had to plan more to try and get them motivated. #scitlap
A2 If I'm excited, I can't hold it in...plus pre-heating the grill is some of the best advice I ever got. Everybody wins when kids run to your room. #scitlap
A3 Tried out Genius Hour this year and while it needs tweaking, it was an amazing experience. Best part was changing up my seating to be more Googlely. #scitlap
A3: Although choice does not equal passion. I encourage kids to explore and express themselves in a wide variety of ways. This sometimes leads to passion projects. #scitlap
A3 I've been trying to get Ss to do a few sidequests where they can share their passions. Write songs, draw pictures etc. Not many takers yet. #scitlap#XPLAP
A3: I have found myself teaching 4th grade. Long story. 3 days in, I'm imagining dioramas for our next writing project. I want to see them build! #dioramasRock#scitlap
I taped secret sidequests under my tables. Took them awhile to find them. I also let them replace their daily work with a sidequest. - I did it once. - #scitlap Big Hit!
A4: I have taught a 3/4 split class for the last 3 days. No clue what I am doing. I LOVE the kids. Love my experience as a teacher and not being a newbie anymore. LOVE is the answer. #scitlap
A4 I am not passionate about Earth Science YET. Trying to find ways to spice it up. I integrated green screens this year because it added something exciting to my lesson. Still seeking fun lessons for next year. I look at it like a treasure hunt! #scitlap
A4: I am honest with the kids and tell them when I don't "feel" a topic. Since they know I try really hard to make things interesting and "cool", they respond #scitlap
OR, have you ever taught rocks to 1st graders? WE do a rock show- and - tell. CUTEST THING EVER. I found this rock in my driveway. I think this rock is a magic smoke rock. . .. #scitlap
No, but that actually sounds fun. Rocks just rock!!! (Lol - that's me faking it). All kidding aside, your my girl for ideas on this, now that I know. And honestly a field trip class really does sound fun. #scitlap
I was also not an Earth Science person. However, it has grown on me with some of the cool things you can do. Snak tectonics, starburst rock cycle, and exploding volcanos BUT with different magma compositions #scitlap
In Minnesota, there is a TIMES project where Earth Science teachers can take a geology field trip professional development class. It was amazing. #scitlap
We’ve had delegations from Asia and Europe come in. I hear: ‘Engaged’. ‘Inspired’ by the full inclusion. ‘Cool’ room. Our staff say the same things. #scitlap
Q7: Students need to show what they know in interesting ways too. How do your students showcase their learning in meaningful engaging ways? (Bonus for Ss examples) #scitlap
They are so fun! Not as horribly messy as I imagined. Just leave them set up all day if you can. Start with one as a demo. Kids will need time to play "sandbox" and get it out of their system at first. #scitlap
Q7: Teachers & schools have been in the news! What are your thoughts on the current events? Walk outs for gun control. Teacher strikes? Other current events on your mind? #scitlap
GEMS (Univerity of California at Berkeley) has a great unit with homemade stream tables made out of diatomaceous earth (available at pool maintenance stores) - https://t.co/r4vlecDEvd#scitlap
A7 So many thoughts actually and they teeter back in forth from wanting to take a huge stand to just wanting to ignore all the noise and worry about the kids in front of me. Really bothered though about everybody's opinions that put a negative light on teachers. #scitlap
Yes, wrapping that up know. My colleague found a great lesson on plate boundaries and then we researched some EQ and volcanoes. Designing seismographs soon too. #scitlap
Interested in ANY ideas though!
A8 To improve student safety and school culture federal and state governments agree to rethink school funding to add psychologists and social workers and expand votech programs. #scitlap
Road trip! :) #scitlap. Actually Izvestia got some really great earth science colleagues in my building. I must seek them out too. So much new stuff this year, I sometimes forget the easy options for help. #scitlap
