#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.
Welcome to #ALEdChat! Tonight’s chat is focused on a book written by @KathleenBudge & @WHParrett titled Disrupting Poverty: Five Powerful Classroom Practices @ASCD. Pls tell us who you are, where you're from, & what you do there.
Tonight’s chat will focus on the Five Powerful Classroom Practices for Disrupting Poverty. We are always excited to learn from and with our #ALEdChat PLN!
My name is Jackie Flowers, Florence City Schools, Director of Instruction & Professional Learning @Florencek12#FCSLearn. I am one of the co-moderators of #ALEdChat. Thank you all for joining us tonight!
My name is Jackie Flowers, Florence City Schools, Director of Instruction & Professional Learning @Florencek12#FCSLearn. I am one of the co-moderators of #ALEdChat. Thank you all for joining us tonight!
A1: I was taught from an early age that everyone was equal, but I did not truly understand what poverty was until seeing it as an adult. Stereotypes are that parents don’t care, kids don’t care, some assume they choose to be unkept or unprepared. #AllWrong#ALEdChat
A5: My mom was the director of a domestic violence shelter and a social worker, so I grew up surrounded by people from different backgrounds. I was taught that "you never know what someone is going through" from a young age. #aledchat
Corey here, former educator, district curriculum specialist and current Director of District Partnerships with @BrightBytes, based in St Petersburg, FL but joining tonight front the CST for a change in Pensacola #aledchat
A1: I have always been taught to love and respect all people. However; growing up, some sterotypes were that people in poverty were lazy, unintelligent, and lacked motivation. #ALedchat
Corey here, former educator, district curriculum specialist and current Director of District Partnerships with @BrightBytes, based in St Petersburg, FL but joining tonight front the CST for a change in Pensacola #aledchat
A1: I grew up & still live in very rural area. Most were poor. Didn't even realize it until I was much older. My father was a social worker and later the DHR director. He certainly instilled in me the importance of giving back and serving those less fortunate. #Aledchat
A1: Hmmm..... I don’t know my own stereotypes. I some include laziness, people being comfortable being poor, not hard worker.... Just some I’ve heard throughout time. #aledchat
Corey here, former educator, district curriculum specialist and current Director of District Partnerships with @BrightBytes, based in St Petersburg, FL but joining tonight front the CST for a change in Pensacola #aledchat
A1) I want to look at this in terms of access, I think we assume that everyone has internet access at home or at school in 2018 and data can show that this is not always the case #aledchat
A1: I was taught I was no better than anyone else and having money or not having money didn’t make you a better/worse person. Stereotypes include the thought that poverty is a result of laziness and people who are in poverty have no goals or ambition. #ALedchat
A1: Having taught so many students of poverty, I often found they believed the stereotypes ....that they weren't smart or couldn't be student or adult leaders. Took it as a challenge to break that mindset. #aledchat
A1: Hmmm..... I don’t know my own stereotypes. I some include laziness, people being comfortable being poor, not hard worker.... Just some I’ve heard throughout time. #aledchat
A1: I was always taught to treat everyone with respect. The sterotypical thinking that I have witnessed is that poverty stricken people could do better if they wanted. Lazy/dirty. #ALEdChat
Yes! Some districts in California strategically park buses that have WiFi near neighborhoods with large numbers that do not have internet access. Thoughtful thinking! #ALEdChat
A1) I want to look at this in terms of access, I think we assume that everyone has internet access at home or at school in 2018 and data can show that this is not always the case #aledchat
A1: I was taught that we are all important. This was instilled in me by my parents and most certainly by my teachers, who cared so much for those of us who attended the high poverty school.#AlEdChat
A2: Yesssss!!!! I think people need to rethink about who they consider to be our typical students. Don’t focus on “oh our demographics have changed” and focus on how can I assist my students and push them toward success! #ALEdChat
A2:I have been blessed to work in four school districts and have seen learning occur at the poorest of the poor schools as well as more affluent schools. I truly feel that high-performing schools can be anywhere with any population. #ALedchat
A2 Yes, all of our schools have the potential to become high performing. We know that essential to this reality is visionary, inclusive leadership; a collaborative team focused on supporting all Ss; and a relentless determination of consistent effort to grow all Ss #aledchat
I’m thinking some of these California districts use survey driven data to identify where these buses should be strategically located to have the biggest impact on access, good example! #ALedchat
A2: 100% yes. And we have learned with one of ours it does not take as much time as one may think. Getting the right people in place, working on the right work and staying focused on high impact strategies can move a school quickly.#AlEdChat
Q3: PCP1- Caring relationships are necessary if significant learning is going to occur. How do you facilitate building caring relationships in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A1: I was taught that we are all important. This was instilled in me by my parents and most certainly by my teachers, who cared so much for those of us who attended the high poverty school.#AlEdChat
A2: Yes our school and any school can become high performing. Forming relationships that hold students accountable while still encouraging and supporting them are super important . Being a safe haven for kids is vital to establish a culture of trust. #ALedchat
A3: You model what you expect to see in others. If you develop strong caring relationships and set this expectation, others will do the same. #ALedchat
A2: Yes our school and any school can become high performing. Forming relationships that hold students accountable while still encouraging and supporting them are super important . Being a safe haven for kids is vital to establish a culture of trust. #ALedchat
A2: high performing is subjective to the tool of measurement. Schools with higher concentration of poverty need the same thing that affluent schools have... love and compassion!!! Not sympathy and apathy #aledchat
A2: I think anny school can become high (or at least much higher) performing if teachers and leaders truly believe their work can make a difference, individually & collectively. When you believe you can't break barriers, students will do the same. Zero complacency. #ALEdChat
A2 Yes, all of our schools have the potential to become high performing. We know that essential to this reality is visionary, inclusive leadership; a collaborative team focused on supporting all Ss; and a relentless determination of consistent effort to grow all Ss #aledchat
A3: Caring relationships start with making connections with students. Find their interests and build on those. Attend sporting events, etc, and know what makes them tick #aledchat
A3: Get to know your kids, love them for who they are, set expectations, respect them, acknowledge what they bring to the table, help them to reach new heights! #aledchat
1. Be authentic (be a human not a robot 🤖)
2. Love your job and your students
3. Be able to be flexible
4. Mentor others to take your place, and Know when to go do something else. #ALEdChat
A3: You can't tell people you care about them; you have to show them. Genuinely listening to people, respecting them; working in the trenches with them, celebrating them. These are just a few ways to build relationships. #ALedchat
A3: show the students they are more than just a number or a test score. Get to know them. Learn their goals and interests. Go to their games. Be visible and be reliable. So many students lack a consistent adult in their lives. Be that. #ALedchat
A3: As my friend @PaigeRaney says, one positive experience at a time. I think as leaders, we have to be what we want others to be with regard to relationships. Come along side people, struggle with them. The help always advances the relationship.#AlEdChat
Welcome Bill - one of the authors! I know you and @KathleenBudge are experiencing some internet connectivity issues. Thank you both for being here. #ALEdChat
This is a great questions Dr. Shaw, and the answer shouldn’t be subjective but dependent on research-based data for one thing, this is one of the reasons I joined @BrightBytes as feel like this question becoming more common at the district-level #ALedchat
Q4: PCP2- All students are capable of meeting high standards when appropriately supported. How do you communicate and support those high expectations for all students in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A3: I’m trying to act on the assumption that I know almost nothing. Seek to under stand. The specific children in front of me, the world as they know it. And act as if school is for them, not for me. #aledchat
Teachers we interviewed told us they were mentors, role models, and “interveners” in kids lives. They also built community in their classrooms. Made all the difference. #ALEdChat
A2: Yes our school and any school can become high performing. Forming relationships that hold students accountable while still encouraging and supporting them are super important . Being a safe haven for kids is vital to establish a culture of trust. #ALedchat
A3: Relationships are everything, from PreK-12th grade! I ALWAYS conferenced weekly & individually with my ELA students. Sometimes, it was just to let them know I missed them when they missed school. Other times, it was to fill in learning gaps. Whatever each one needed.#ALedchat
Q3: PCP1- Caring relationships are necessary if significant learning is going to occur. How do you facilitate building caring relationships in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A2: high performing is subjective to the tool of measurement. Schools with higher concentration of poverty need the same thing that affluent schools have... love and compassion!!! Not sympathy and apathy #aledchat
A4: Prepare them for success. Provide frequent feedback. Focus on what student can do instead of what they cannot. Give genuine praise for their hard work. #ALEdChat
Honest conversations with the student about where the student is, where they ultimately want to be, encourage, support, guide, and lead them to their best. This has to happen daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. #AlEdChat
Q4: PCP2- All students are capable of meeting high standards when appropriately supported. How do you communicate and support those high expectations for all students in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A4: 1. Speak Life and positivity into them daily
2. Show and explain how their goals can be achieved (walk with them through the struggles)
3. Express the end goal and hold their feet to the fire.
4. Be understanding and give grace/patience when needed #ALEdChat
A3: Get to know your kids, love them for who they are, set expectations, respect them, acknowledge what they bring to the table, help them to reach new heights! #aledchat
A3: Caring relationships start with making connections with students. Find their interests and build on those. Attend sporting events, etc, and know what makes them tick #aledchat
A4: First, we have to believe that it's true. From there, allow ALL students access to high level learning opportunities and support them as they get there. Important to be consistent with teachers at every opportunity that ALL students can be successful. #AlEdChat
Q5: PCP3 – An equal opportunity to learn requires equitable conditions for learning. How do you create equitable conditions for learning in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
1. Be authentic (be a human not a robot 🤖)
2. Love your job and your students
3. Be able to be flexible
4. Mentor others to take your place, and Know when to go do something else. #ALEdChat
A3: You can't tell people you care about them; you have to show them. Genuinely listening to people, respecting them; working in the trenches with them, celebrating them. These are just a few ways to build relationships. #ALedchat
A3: Get to know your kids, love them for who they are, set expectations, respect them, acknowledge what they bring to the table, help them to reach new heights! #aledchat
Teachers we interviewed told us they were mentors, role models, and “interveners” in kids lives. They also built community in their classrooms. Made all the difference. #ALEdChat
In the book we talk about a litmus test for teachers—what are doing with homework, grading, and classroom based assessment? These are usually in a teachers control. Are you using equitable practices? #ALEdChat
A4: establish expectations early on and be consistent. Having the same expectations daily shows students that you truly believe in them and expect them to be successful. #ALedchat
A4: Prepare them for success. Provide frequent feedback. Focus on what student can do instead of what they cannot. Give genuine praise for their hard work. #ALEdChat
A5 My classroom, making it about the students. Personal feelings take a backseat.
I’m interested to hear what people say for school and districts. #ALEdChat
Q6: PCP4- We are all responsible for student learning. In what ways do you hold yourself accountable for all students learning in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A5) Not saying this is the only option, but a pretty good one in my biased opinion, @BrightBytes districts utilize a module called Technology & Learning to capture data get a clear picture of each school to see that there is equity, and if not how and where to address #ALEdChat
Q5: PCP3 – An equal opportunity to learn requires equitable conditions for learning. How do you create equitable conditions for learning in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A5: The more I learn, the more I believe we struggle with this more than we know. Even our concepts of “achievement” & “equity” are fundamentally shaped by our world view. I annoyingly harp on questioning everything-including whether we are even chasing the right rabbit #aledchat
Honest conversations with the student about where the student is, where they ultimately want to be, encourage, support, guide, and lead them to their best. This has to happen daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. #AlEdChat
Q4: PCP2- All students are capable of meeting high standards when appropriately supported. How do you communicate and support those high expectations for all students in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A4: 1. Speak Life and positivity into them daily
2. Show and explain how their goals can be achieved (walk with them through the struggles)
3. Express the end goal and hold their feet to the fire.
4. Be understanding and give grace/patience when needed #ALEdChat
A5: Watched this powerful documentary last weekend about how the presence of one caring adult (often a teacher) can make all the difference in a child's life, particularly one who's experienced trauma: https://t.co/rf6irG6Pzn (Warning: Profanity) #ALedchat
Q5: PCP3 – An equal opportunity to learn requires equitable conditions for learning. How do you create equitable conditions for learning in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A6: Speaking from the district level, we must really reflect on our own work and how that work impacts student achievement.
If we can't see that it does, perhaps we are doing the wrong work. #AlEdChat
Just as our Ss have goals, we as the Ts should have goals. Test Data, classroom engagement, have my 9th graders grown? Just some of the questions I constantly ask through out the year. #ALEdChat
Q6: PCP4- We are all responsible for student learning. In what ways do you hold yourself accountable for all students learning in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
Too many examples of high-poverty schools becoming high-performing schools to think that it can't happen for your school or my school. Illogical to think otherwise. #aledchat
A6: Always Learning. The kid that started teaching in rural Indiana would not recognize me if he saw me. And would probably not understand me if I talked to him. I have to be a little bit better *every* tomorrow #aledchat
In the book we talk about a litmus test for teachers—what are doing with homework, grading, and classroom based assessment? These are usually in a teachers control. Are you using equitable practices? #ALEdChat
A5 need to build relationships for understanding of background, experience, culture, goals, etc & bring this into the classroom with every day interactions & content, use this info as assets to learning. Use relevant material & have difficult, important conversations #aledchat
Q7: PCP5- Barriers to learning are difficult, but not impossible, to eliminate. Tell us about a time you successfully eliminated a barrier to learning in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A6: Speaking from the district level, we must really reflect on our own work and how that work impacts student achievement.
If we can't see that it does, perhaps we are doing the wrong work. #AlEdChat
Personal views are definitely shaped by experiences from a world systemic view. In our district we offer an unconscious bias training & personal story telling among other PD opportunities #aledchat
Bullseye! Why oh WHY is classroom grading and assessment not more of a focus for professional growth? Poor grading practices hurt students who struggle them most.
(Shameless segue) - come to #ACGAL on 10.6 to dive into this issue: https://t.co/7o7XpJGE5O#ALedchat
In the book we talk about a litmus test for teachers—what are doing with homework, grading, and classroom based assessment? These are usually in a teachers control. Are you using equitable practices? #ALEdChat
Yes, as district leaders, we must think about how our work and directives affect each child....always asking, "Does this thing really impact student learning and overall success?" "Is it hindering or helping teachers/principals?" #ALedchat
A6: Speaking from the district level, we must really reflect on our own work and how that work impacts student achievement.
If we can't see that it does, perhaps we are doing the wrong work. #AlEdChat
A7) I’m thinking back to 2010 or so when I allowed my students to use mobile phones in the classroom to answer questions to be displayed and this broke through a small barrier I felt we had #aledchat
This is all day every day! The biggest is dealing with the teacher that does not believe ALL of the students can succeed. Why deny any student every opportunity to have your best? 🙀 #AlEdChat
Q7: PCP5- Barriers to learning are difficult, but not impossible, to eliminate. Tell us about a time you successfully eliminated a barrier to learning in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
Personal views are definitely shaped by experiences from a world systemic view. In our district we offer an unconscious bias training & personal story telling among other PD opportunities #aledchat
A7 I think I have been successful in breaking the barrier of having a quiet classroom for history. It takes some time every year, but the results are great! I have had more students connect with the content and find it useful. #ItsOktoBeLoud#ALEdChat
This is all day every day! The biggest is dealing with the teacher that does not believe ALL of the students can succeed. Why deny any student every opportunity to have your best? 🙀 #AlEdChat
Q7: PCP5- Barriers to learning are difficult, but not impossible, to eliminate. Tell us about a time you successfully eliminated a barrier to learning in your classroom, school, and/or district? #ALEdChat
A7: Technology has become essential in eliminating barriers in education as well as careers. Tech can help with vocab, comprehension, organizing thoughts, managing oneself...#AlEdChat
A8: I always need to be reminded about the importance of working on the relationships. We have a system wide PD day tomorrow, so perfect timing. #AlEdChat
A7 I think I have been successful in breaking the barrier of having a quiet classroom for history. It takes some time every year, but the results are great! I have had more students connect with the content and find it useful. #ItsOktoBeLoud#ALEdChat
A8: I always need to be reminded about the importance of working on the relationships. We have a system wide PD day tomorrow, so perfect timing. #AlEdChat
To eliminate barriers in education you have to focus on developing the whole child. It only takes about 15 inches. The distance between the heart and mind. To teach the mind you have to touch the heart. #ALEdChat
Thank you all and especially @JackieAFlowers for a great chat tonight. Always love it, but when I saw you were on tonight and the topic, I knew it was time to end my hiatus. #ALedchat
