#HSD1Chat will be a PLC based chat involving educators from Helena Public Schools. However, other educators are invited to participate. It will occur on the second Tuesday of every month.
A1: Second semester is my favorite semester as my students prepare for the ACT and we do our most fun units: science fiction and The Great Gatsby! These interactive units keep both me and my students motivated to finish the year strong. #HSD1CHAT
A1) I get new classes at semester so it is always a new challenge to start building relationships again and motivating a new group of students. I find the change a big motivator for me. #HSD1CHAT
A1 I have a large, exciting project with 3rd grade that will keep me quite motivated. Additionally, post-holiday concert gives me this sense of freedom and possibility and JOY. It is a feeling I will ride all the way until June. #HSD1CHAT
A1: this is when a lot more stuff comes together in my curriculum. We move from amorphous concepts to real-world government agencies and people. And it all builds to a big year end project, so I guess it's prepping for that.
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to a huge degree; I find I get more participation across the board when we do current events stuff- be it a whole day or just 5 minutes in class
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2nd half we have clear goals for all students. Helps keep me on track and motivated. Time for more Sci/Soc/Art and less behavior/expectation lessons!! #hsd1chat
A1: Second semester is my favorite semester as my students prepare for the ACT and we do our most fun units: science fiction and The Great Gatsby! These interactive units keep both me and my students motivated to finish the year strong. #HSD1CHAT
Yes! First semester is all about learning who the Ss are, forming class dynamics. Now that relationships feel relatively stable, I definitely feel better able to start more complex projects. #HSD1CHAT
They're seniors, so... in any way possible?
More short term goals, keep them aware of the timeline for the whole year and regular grade updates.
#HSD1CHAT
A2:With our units this semester, we have clear, measurable goals with the ACT, a guest speaker for our Vietnam unit, and a big, fat multi-genre project to end the year after reading Gatsby. Ss see these as fun activities, thus motivating #HSD1CHAT
A2b: I talk a lot about how much I want to teach them before the end of the school year and remind them of all the knowledge they can gain every minute of every day. #hsd1chat
My guest teacher started Math centers while I was on maternity leave. I haven't started Reading Centers. I know our high kiddos use Daily 5 in their group. - That seems to be a good challenge. #HSD1CHAT
I've got to think that the ACT, stressful as it is, is a nice benchmark midway thorough for all of the Ss to focus on
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sorry for ending that with a preposition
A2 I hope to keep my lessons fresh and energetic, even as the inevitable spring fever hits. I am contemplating new types of informal performance opportunities, so students have a chance to share a non-holiday music experience with their families. #HSD1CHAT
A2 I think that adjusting their roles as first graders helps to keep them motivated in my classroom. I like to make them feel more "in charge" and independent. Then they seem to work harder. #HSD1CHAT
A2b For my 3rd grade, motivation is built in to the ukulele Helena History performance we will be doing in late May/early June. All roads lead to that performance. And there is a ton to learn along the way! #HSD1CHAT
A3 December being the "dark time" when everything is consumed with holiday concert prep, I honestly haven't given much thought to our resource list since I initially read them. However, I will revisit it soon, especially the planning app @cpierce2009 has mentioned. #HSD1CHAT
A3: Unfortunately, I had to kick that can down the road. We have a big end-of-semester writing/ research project going on + finals + the end of chapter. I'm racing just to hit all of my content before the end of the week. #Soon#HSD1CHAT
A3 Many of my colleagues use "Xtra Math" and I have never jumped on board. I did try it, and my kiddos loved it! Now just have to find time to fit it into my schedule. Thanks, Kim! #HSD1CHAT
the ease with keeping everything on google can be such hindrance to trying new stuff. I don't like leaving my Google certified safety blanket, esp. for personal admin stuff
#HSD1CHAT
Are you both using personal Google accounts, or have you made separate for-your-classroom google accounts? I use OneDrive because it is linked to my district email, but am curious as to what you find more appealing w/ Google. #HSD1CHAT
In reply to
@HhsAmerican, @EngWithWallace, @cpierce2009
ahh. I can see how Google would be an excellent option for paper edits/feedback. As someone who does not interact digitally with my students in that way, I have not experienced the Office 365 deficiencies. #HSD1CHAT
In reply to
@HhsAmerican, @EngWithWallace, @cpierce2009
A4: YES! In high school, we can get a handful of transfers at semester, so it is beneficial for them and previous students. Also, students have a lot to remember, so reminders are great! #HSD1CHAT
A4: not ALL of them, but weirdly enough, a number of them come up when discussing Civil Liberties in class, so that sort of acts a refresher for the expectations
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A4) I usually review expectations/goals during semester test week after my grading is done and I begin to prepare for my new wave of students #HSD1CHAT
A4: My Ss have been struggling with recess expectations. I’m going to have to do some major review. It’s a good reminder for all Ss as we approach the end of 2nd quarter. #HSD1CHAT#hsd1chat
A4 I have done a very brief review of school universals and classroom expectations. But truly, very brief. It's good to remind the Ss to help get them back into the school mentality after break. #HSD1CHAT
A4
Since I am just returning from maternity leave, I definitely had to get reacquainted with my rules/expectations and make sure my students were refreshed as well. #HSD1CHAT
A4: I had to do a review of all classroom expectations upon return from break. We had "forgotten" a few rules. Back to the Basics in my room this week! #HSD1CHAT
We've got our Big 4 Be Respectful/ A Graduate/ Involved/ Responsible on a poster in every classroom, but there's a ton of minutiae that comes of in random spots
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A4: the ELA lesson after break focused on rules and laws which fit in perfectly for a review of classroom expectations. We also recite the expectations every day during calendar #hsd1chat
A5: Thanks to a change in the writing program at CHS, I feel like I am doing a better job teaching writing this year. I have more time to hit specific skills and reteach. #HSD1CHAT
A5: Flexibility. I've focused on being "fair" rather than "equal" and I've seen the need the need for understanding a number of Ss who are in different circumstances who need to work through things differently, and for the most part they haven't let me down.
#HSD1CHAT
A5. I think I am doing a reasonably good job of being comfortable in my discomfort. When I start a new project and it tanks, I have tried to have a sense of humor about it, step back, and find a new way to approach it with subsequent sections. #HSD1CHAT
A5
I agree with Whitney. I feel like writing is going really well! Kids are motivated and I feel more confident teaching it - thanks to writing conferences. #HSD1CHAT
reteaching is so key, that was a big focus in my latest team meeting was allotting time to ensure that everyone "gets it" and remedying issues before they spiral out
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A5) I’ve tried to be more open to change this year. Change in terms of trying new things or changing up how I teach something. Some days a new plan goes great, sometimes it falls short and it’s back to the drawing board. #HSD1CHAT
A5: I switched grades and it has been a challenge to keep up with the curriculum, and I have some behavior issues that tend to get in the way sometimes. So, what's going well, let me get back to you om that. #HSD1CHAT
A5 I moved schools this year and am learning that what works at one school doesn't always work at another. I take time to focus on sci and soc which I haven't done much in the past #hsd1chat
I am, just not sure I'd give myself a shout out for anything right now. :-) Except, the ability to make changes to my instruction/ schedule on the fly!
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Q6: as a Social Studies teacher, I'm on a weird island, so I guess the best answer is really harping on grammar skills on their papers and making sure they accurately analyze/ synthesize everything they read
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A6: Call me crazy, but I love prepping my kids for the ACT and District Writing Assessment. It is a perfect segue into reviewing key skills and getting extra practice.We do strategies and lots of practice tests and reviews. #HSD1CHAT
A6: We found out we aren’t assessing for state assessments until May, which made me super happy! Thankfully Ss are familiar with district assessments so it’s not as challenging. #HSD1CHAT
When I had a World Hist class, I always loved ACT prep because I could have the kids work on short article comprehension that I could tie into my curriculum
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A6
My kiddos progress monitor monthly on our district assessments so they are used to seeing it. I find that they are less overwhelmed and more confident when it comes to the real test. #HSD1CHAT
A6 No state standardized for music, but we do have district K-5 music assessments again this March/April. I will make sure that 2nd & 5th are getting lots of repetition on the skills we check in on. Melodic accuracy in 2nd, rhythmic literacy in 5th. #HSD1CHAT
A6) we do fitness testing at the beginning and end of each semester to track fitness progress. This is done through the fitnessgram which is used district wide. It is our goal to see growth at the end of each semester. #HSD1CHAT
