#6thchat Archive
#6thchat is used to chat, collaborate, and grow with other sixth grade educators from around the globe. Each session we discuss a topic voted on by #6thchat participants. It's a great way to help grow your PLN and share ideas with others.
Tuesday May 17, 2016
Welcome to ! This is our wrap-up convo before summer holidays. Please introduce yourself and where you are from.
I'm Angela Rutschke & I teach in Caroline, Alberta. I teach the 4 core as well as Leadership & Genius Hour.
Hi! Kristin from Lansing, MI 6th grade ELA and SS
Q1: Moving forward, what topics would you like to explore?
Hi Kristin! Great to see you, my friend! I hope your week is going well!
Topics for ? For our classroom? Just for tonight?
Going well! Definitely beginning the end of year fatigue!
Hello principal and grade 6 ELA teacher joining in almost on time tonight. Not sure how long I can stay.
For topics for and our classrooms :)
Not a problem Michelle! We are happy to see you! It is a BUSY time of year!
Me too! So busy right now with no end until the finish line! :)
A1New to grade 6 ELA this year but would love to talk about engaging students in writing sometime.
A1) Good question; combining play w/ standards; best approach/ideas for interventions; helping Ss improve effort/goal setting
Writing is a topic I am ALWAYS interested in talking about :)
Parent here. Since it's your last chat of the school year, want to thank you for welcoming me in the past. I learn a lot!
I feel like I am painfully dragging some of them.
Q2: What suggestions do you have to ensure our chat is engaging & not repetitive? Do you like the idea of going deeper with topics?
Hi Jeremy! We are always so glad you join us! We are just brainstorming & reflecting about our direction tonight.
Me too, at times! I also feel like ELA can become pretty disjointed at times. There's SO much that can be done!!
A2) I like going deeper w/ topics; I enjoy keeping focused on our unique brand of Ss--the special-ness of 6th graders!
I like to go deep into topics so it creates a conversation.
A2: I am considering having a couple of weeks in a row that link to specific topics ex: gamification, writing, etc.
I LOVE connecting with other 6th grade Ts, as I am the only one in my school! This feels like family :)
I like going deeper as well! My concern is our numbers! Any suggestion on how to get more Ts involved here?
Q3: What ways could we share resources and collaboration opportunities with each other?
I think I could get on spreading the word to other teachers in our school division and in my PLN.
A3: I like the idea of forming a QuadBlog group, perhaps an online Book Club, GHOs, anything to connect & share our work loads
We seem to be hot/cold on numbers; maybe we can put topics out a week before so when we end, we say "on deck";
I have been trying to spread the word as well! Time of year can impact ppl as well!
When we tried to get people to jump on a group of us really pushed with everyone we knew until more and more joined.
A3) Could be fun to have a Padlet open for each chat to load resources from folks; ideas; links.
It's an important part that I have been struggling with lately! It's tough coming up with ideas every week!
A3 love the idea of a book study or blog challenge.
Once we get a few more on board an edchat edcamp where we just throw out questions we want to discuss is fun.
Agree...maybe try to have a guest moderator once a month from other chats, etc? Authors?
This is really good as well! I may need more help :)
Or even a "chapter" study or "article" review could be a good focus
Yes that is a great idea too.
Q4: Do you find weekly chats worth your time if there are only a few people in them? Why or why not?
More about lessening the stress of it, and possibly bringing other peeps to our chat
A4: I enjoy chats with a few people if they are sharing, 10-15 is even better :) It's easier to remember when it is weekly IMO
I think they are always worth while but more people means deeper and richer discussion sometimes.
The nice thing about small numbers is that we can have deeper convos w/each other; we can develop history; relationship
Absolutely!! Guest moderators bring their own followers as well, which is always fantastic!
Sorry ladies I have to jump out. Let's keep talking about how we can make this a bigger and better thing next year.
Maybe during the summer some forward planning toward fall to line up a Sept/ Oct/Nov guest moderator/author
A4: It matters who the few areπ I get excited when a chat is for a specific niche group. Narrows the focus
I may be changing grades in September & I'd hate to have disappear, any suggestions?
I may be changing grades in September & I'd hate to have disappear, any suggestions?
Excellent point Alex! What chats get you excited?
I am reading Mindsets and Moves by and would love to chat on this book, w/this author as a guest moderator
Q4: What books, authors, ideas, passions do you wish we would talk about in future chats?
something that includes parents of 6th graders (although next year mine will be a 7th grader). Some way to learn along.
Perfect timing! I was just going to ask for suggestions :)
Could be interesting to include a"slow chat" element where we prep for a chat by having folks respond to a question throughout week
This is a wonderful suggestion Jeremy! What would you have liked to see discussed from a parent's standpoint?
Selfishly but outside of my own I β€οΈ & now π
there's already an ... Is there a ?
Having read Mindset by Dweck, I was curious & I appreciate the language she encourages Ts to use w/Ss
I like slow chats a lot! They allow me to process what I am learning more thoroughly!
I am REALLY enjoying too! It is a great group!
Q5: If you could have ANY guest moderator, who would be on the top of your wish list?
Also enjoying Make Writing by and thing this would be a great chat focus for next year;
That's an excellent question! I don't know! It's an interesting time in a child's life & sometimes challenging for Ps!
I LOVED this book! It would be a brilliant chat focus indeed!
A5) Any Pirate-book-based author, the Hack Learning series authors;
A5: I'd love to have guest moderate! Great convos!
Wonderful suggestions, and I agree completely :) I will definitely get to work on these!
See? That was easy! :) One guest moderator is happy to join --this would be a wonderful chat for Sept!!
I haven't heard of this program, but I will check it out for sure now!
LOL that's how I've been feeling! I have a daughter in my class :)
Not necessarily education-based but a lot of his programs focus on Edu. Get the Podcast and enjoy https://t.co/pLuqH6qgEh
I haven't heard of this program, but I will check it out for sure now!
Q7: Should continue during the summer, or resume in September? Why do you think so?
Sometimes different perspectives are EXACTLY what educators need :)
perhaps linking what they experience at home (such as debates about an election) with what they're learning in school.
Is it hard to resume after a break? but wonder if we could do a monthly or bimonthly chat focused on planning/prepping
This is a great chat topic! We definitely need to make connections to home & school more relevant!
and... it must be said, at this age, changes are afoot. Open parent/teacher discussion about puberty/sex ed might help!
I always seem to,remember this chat when it is over! I am so sorry because I know how hard moderating chats are!
Honestly, I'm not sure! Monthly/bi-monthly would be a great way to stay connected, especially during prep/planning.
What if we slow chat over the summer? Weekly questions posted on Tuesday evenings at our normal time?
That is not a problem at all Leigh Anne! We were just discussing how to make our wonderful little chat even better :)
One or 2 questions is all.
She is in my class! I'm the sole 6th grade T in our little town :)
That sounds like something I could handle :) I will keep everyone posted!!
Q8: Any last minute questions or suggestions for making even better?
I would love to see this chat grow & I would be more than happy to help promote it. It usually competes w/ The Voice! π
Invite folks to share questions with you that they'd like to discuss or reflect on
A round of applause for you!! Thank you for all you do. I know it takes time and you have been great!
A8: I sure appreciate this group & it's my pleasure to be part of it! Vibrant, passionate, inspiring discussion makes us better!
wow! That must be interesting. At least you never need to push the question about what she did in school.
Me too! I love our discussions! We'll have to promise singing ;P
Awwww, thanks Kristin! It is one of my best PD activities, I just don't want it to get stale!
